Wal-Mart aero-mods 1,000 of its 7,000 semi-trucks?

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by oldpecan

Wal-Mart fellow Chris Soltzenmayer (sp?) also explains how Wal-Mart is inducing suppliers to use packaging that weighs less and is using logistics computers to lessen even further unused space inside trailers.

Wal-Mart claims these changes together make delivery 21% more efficient than it was just 3 years ago.

What Walmart really means is it costs them 21% less. Long before their products are loaded onto domestic trailers they are shipped across the ocean in containers. THIS is where they are most concerned. I just thought I'd point this out in case anyone bought this as anything other than a PR spin. Walmart has no green cred. The HUGE amounts of extra shipping energy they burn fuelling their global logistics are more than covered by the labor savings they get through importing. They are not conserving energy, they are trying to save money by wasting a little less...

Originally Posted by oldpecan

The segment closes with "Wal-Mart hopes to roll out their first hybrid tractor-trailer early [2009].

So did this ever happen? Doesn't look like it:

"In partnership with truck and component manufacturers, we have built a number of prototype tractors, including hybrid assist, wheel-end hybrid assist, full propulsion hybrid, and natural gas, with the goal of learning from testing in a real-life environment to improve the technology.

Like many emerging technologies, these trucks may never enter operation or may not remain in operation long as they go through multiple iterations before being cleared for commercialization. We are already working on next generations."

Looks like more PR… especially since Walmart doesn't make trucks and they are wording it like they are going to "roll out" their first hybrids as of 2009, makes it sound to the un-educated public that they are deploying hybrid trucks already. Hmmm… it's 2013 and no hybrids yet!

[Big Dave]

I don't look for hybrid trucks in the near future.

Battery technology continues to betray hybrids.

I would look for outfits like Wally-World to start using CNG for runs from Distribution centers to stores. Yeah a "filling station" will set them back $750,000 minimum, but with a $2.50/gal fuel cost difference the amount of traffic a Wal-Mart fleet goes through blows that away fairly quickly.

Most of the trucks shuttling in and out of distribution centers to local stores tend to be on "captive" runs. Perfect for a company CNG operation.

Wally-World runs unit trucks of containers from Long beach to terminals near Distribution Centers. This long-haul operation couldn't care less about IFTA. Any fuel taxes are those paid by the railroads. Next stop: electric railroad main lines.