Fairing system streamlines trailer profile, cuts fuel use and emissions
Freight Wing Inc has launched its aerodynamic system that improves the fuel efficiency of tractor-trailers. Developed via a grant from the United States Department of Energy, the Freight Wing Aerodynamic System streamlines the profile of box-shaped trailers, enabling the tractor's engine to use less fuel and thus release fewer emissions into the atmosphere.
Standardized Society of Automotive Engineers/Technology & Maintenance Council fuel economy tests have been conducted on the Freight Wing Aerodynamic System at the Transportation Research Center, an independent automotive proving ground in Ohio. Results demonstrated a 7% reduction in the fuel consumption of a fully loaded tractor-trailer. This means a savings of up to 1,100 gallons of diesel fuel every 100,000 miles, a distance a typical Class 8 long-haul truck covers in a year. This amount of fuel savings also prevents more than 12 tons of emissions from entering the atmosphere.
The Freight Wing Aerodynamic System consists of three attachments or fairings designed to reduce wind drag:
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Gap Fairing, mounted on the front of the trailer. Air that curves around the tractor is guided smoothly over the flat face of the trailer by the Gap Fairing. Freight Wing's product is designed specifically for use with modern, aerodynamic tractors.
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Belly Fairing, consisting of two identical wind deflectors attached to the underside of the trailer, adjacent its side walls. The Belly Fairing prevents wind from hitting the rear wheels, and smooths airflow around the sides and bottom of the trailer.
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Rear Fairing, mounted on the back of the trailer. In streamlining the trailer's box end, the Rear Fairing acts in the same manner as wings on an airplane, guiding air moving along the sides into the wake of the trailer.
The Freight Wing system is presently being tested by Transport Corp of America Inc, a Minnesota-based long-haul trucking company with more than 5,000 trailers in its fleet.