THE LOCKWOOD REPORT

FREIGHTLINER'S EVOLUTION SIPS FUEL

June 6, 2012 Vol. 8, No. 12

Well, I spoke too soon in last week's Product Watch newsletter. No sooner had I written that things were quiet on the product front than I realized that Freightliner had launched its 2014 Cascadia Evolution tractor. That'll teach me not to post too far in advance of the deadline.

It's actually a pretty significant introduction, not least because Freightliner is claiming a 7% fuel-economy improvement over an EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia equipped with first-generation aerodynamics. It even gains as much as 5% compared to a current-model 2013 Cascadia equipped with the latest aero upgrades.

The Evolution is powered only by the re-designed Detroit DD15 engine and sports a lot of new aerodynamic trickery (see more details here). That motor is a whopping 100 lb lighter than its predecessor and uses a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger with a next-generation 'amplified common rail' fuel system.

Freightliner reports that a recent fuel-economy test run with a fully tricked-out Evolution produced an impressive 10.67 mpg. Those are little U.S. gallons, of course, so make that 12.8 miles per manly Imperial gallon if my shaky math is correct. Not bad. I have no idea what that might be in liters per 100 kilometers, by the way. My calculator's tired, me even more so.

The truck was equipped with all the right options, of course, including the Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission with wide-base tires, a 6x2 drivetrain, and Daimler-designed aerodynamic trailer enhancements which were included to represent the current state of trailer aerodynamics available in the aftermarket.

The Evolution was tested at the Continental Proving Grounds in Uvalde, TX, Freightliner reports. There, the truck traveled the 8.5-mile closed-course track for 1000 non-stop miles at an average speed of 60 mph with a GCW of 76,000 lb. Fuel consumption and distance traveled were measured at the end of the demonstration by an independent, third-party auditor using high-accuracy fuel-flow meters.

Freightliner is quick to point out that this was a closed-track demonstration without interferences like traffic, construction and speed variations. It showed pure fuel economy potential.
 

But they also did the 'Evolution of Efficiency' cross-country tour, 2400 miles from San Diego, CA., to Gastonia, NC. On that run, the optimally spec’d Cascadia Evolution shown above achieved 9.31 mpg (about 11 mpg in Imperial terms), loaded to 76,000 lb at a cruise speed of 62 mph. Fuel consumption and distance traveled were again documented by the same third-party auditor.

Production begins some time next year.

SPEAKING OF FUEL ECONOMY, Transport Canada has announced it will fund testing of advanced heavy-truck technologies to help develop safety and environmental regulations, as well as industry codes and standards. It's only C$38 million, but what the heck, it's more than zero.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) likes it, of course, saying the research "...will no doubt identify ways to green our sector without introducing unnecessary costs as well as hopefully identifying challenging technology that is not worth pursuing.” The latter is a useful angle not often mentioned.

The CTA is pushing for financial incentives to encourage the purchase of GHG-friendly tractors and add-on devices for trailers.

Among the research projects planned, the feds will fund a study to look at the feasibility of replacing truck rear-view mirrors with on-board cameras to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Maybe save a few bucks and just talk to Daimler in Stuttgart or Volvo in Gothenburg?

Another project will be scale-model wind-tunnel testing to measure the drag-reduction capabilities of aerodynamic devices on long haul tractor-trailer combinations. That will include looking at the potential for trailer 'boat tails' to affect other road users due to the spraying of snow, ice, mud and other debris, which could be very useful indeed. 

The safety benefits of side-skirts versus side-guards (metal bars in the same area) to withstand pedestrian impacts at standard temperatures (20°C, 68 F) and cold temperatures (-25°C, -13 F) will also be looked at.

That's an interesting one, and so is this: testing the emissions and fuel-consumption performance of hybrid electric trucks across a variety of operating conditions, including cold weather.

On the face of it, I don't know about this next project, namely testing the safety and environmental performance of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles. Couldn't we borrow other research there?

And finally, given my predilection for looking at the potential of fuels we don't yet know much about, I like the fact that Ottawa will fund cross-comparison testing of various alternative-fuel vehicles. Trouble is, it seems we're only talking about some pretty conventional fuels like CNG, propane, gasoline, and diesel, plus electric power. No mention of fuels like algae-derived biodiesel, biomethane, DME, and a bunch of others. Again, if we don't show a spirit of techno-adventure here and show some leadership, we might as well read the literature and borrow from testing being done in Europe and the U.S. No?

STILL WITH FUEL ECONOMY AND AERODYNAMICS, I like the fact that those little Airtab vortex generators that you stick on the trailing edges of a cab or van box or trailer are getting some cool recognition. They've been around forever, and they do save fuel, by all accounts.

They're made by Aeroserve Technologies in Ottawa, actually manufactured by L-D Tool & Die, also of Ottawa.

The most recent recognition of their usefulness comes by way of NASA Space Shuttle Spin-Off Technology displays in Space Shuttle museums at four locations in the U.S. The displays will open soon at the Smithsonian Institute at the Washington Dulles Airport, the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, the Intrepid Museum in New York City, and in the California Science Centre in Los Angeles. They're intended to highlight commercially available products and innovations that have sprung from NASA research and the Space Shuttle program.

Back in 2009, Aeroserve was awarded a Certificate of Commendation and induction into The Space Foundation Hall of Fame.

Not incidentally, as of  May 1, 2012, Aeroserve and L-D Tool & Die surpassed the two million Airtabs manufactured milestone. They're sold worldwide.

Airtabs are small wishbone-shaped injection-molded devices that each produce two powerful counter-rotating vortices on vehicles at highway speeds. Mounted in a continuous array on the sides and roof at the rear of a trailer, straight truck, van, bus or RV, or around the fairings of tractors, these vortices reduce base pressure drag. That's the 'suction' drag that occurs at the rear of any large square-backed vehicle and reduces fuel consumption. Less suction at the rear also reduces road grime and snow buildup.

Aeroserve says drivers report a marked increase in vehicle stability in gusty wind conditions, and thus less fatigue at the wheel. In rain, less spray and improved mirror visibility are also consistently reported, the company says. For long-haul truckers, Airtabs are said to deliver a payback period of less than 60 days.

"Airtabs aren’t miracles, but they perform as advertised. People like them,” says Aeroserve CEO Ron Davidson.

ONE FINAL NOTE, BREAKING MY MANDATE of writing about new technologies. The thing is, I like old trucks. Love them, in fact, and I know a bunch of you do too. So if you're in southern Ontario -- well, actually west-central Ontario, I guess -- at the end of the month there's an outdoor truck show you've got to see.
 

The Great Lakes Truck Club is hosting its third annual Classic Truck Show on Friday June 29th and Saturday June 30th in Clifford, Ontario, just over two hours northwest of Toronto heading towards Lake Huron. It promises to be a terrific show, one that's everything such things should be. A no-judging event, it's really just a gathering of truck lovers.

"Our main objective is to bring vintage truck enthusiasts together with trucks manufactured from the fifties right thru to the eighties," says Verdun Zurbrigg, show co-ordinator.

The show is like the club, really, which began as an ad hoc collection of friends and classic-truck enthusiasts who thought they might try a show. If I remember correctly, they had 80 or so trucks that first year, which rose to 120 in 2011. Who knows how many we'll see this time? More than four, I'm told.

It's easily the largest classic and antique big rig show in Ontario, probably in Canada. This year the highlight will be the Cabover Cruise-In that will feature a long lineup of cabovers all parked together. New for 2012 will be the Bulldog Corral showcasing all eras of Mack trucks and this year's feature truck will be the Superliner. One of my all-time favorite trucks. Expect to see some Dodge Big Horns too -- there were four of them last year, a lovely sight.

The show's held in a park-like setting with camping right on site, a food booth, just a few vendors, and a BBQ porkchop dinner on Saturday night. There's also a classic car show alongside the big rigs.

The spectator entry fee is $5.00 and it's $20.00 for a truck. Camping is also $20.00. Well worth every penny, I promise you.

AND SOME OTHER SHOW REMINDERS... On June 21 and 22, it's Green Fleet Expo VII, hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Niagara Region in partnership with the City of Toronto, Fleet Services Division, Electric Mobility Canada and Fleet Challenge Ontario. Day 1 presentations are being webcast live. As the name suggests, you'll learn about the latest developments in low-emission vehicles and equipment being used by Canada's leading green fleets. There's a small trade show and a ride-and-drive. It's at the Four Points by Sheraton in the Niagara region, specifically at 3530 Schmon Parkway in Thorold, Ont.  The  2-day registration fee is $150, 1-day fee is $75, and you can register for the webcast of Day 1 for $35. See http://www.toronto.ca/fleet/expo.htm

The TMC 2012 Fall Meeting & SuperTech12 schedule has been published. The event runs from Sunday September 9 through Thursday the 13th at David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Call 703-838-1763, e-mail tmc@trucking.org, or register online at www.trucking.org/abs/Pages/2012TMCFALL.aspx

At the same time, namely September 10-12, you may want to attend the fifth International Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference in Baltimore, MD. Hosted in the U.S. for the first time, this one is about shaping the market for clean and fuel efficient vehicles, sponsored by EPA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Environment Canada, and supported by the Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association, Society of Automotive Engineers, the International Council on Clean Transportation and others. Sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space are available. Abstracts for papers and presentations will be accepted until April 30. Visit www.efv2012.com

And if you want to justify a trip to Europe, note that this is a Hannover year. The 64th IAA Commercial Vehicles show will be held from September 20 to 27, 2012 in Hannover, Germany. See www.iaa.de/en/

THIS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED every two weeks. It's a heads-up notice about what's going on with trucking technology. I also write here about interesting products that may not have had the 'air play' they deserved within the last few months.

I should remind you that I don’t endorse any of the products I write about in this e-newsletter, nor do I have the resources to test them. What you’re getting is reasonably well educated opinion based on more than three decades in trucking.

If you have comments of whatever sort about the Lockwood Report, or maybe you've tried a gizmo I should know about, please contact me at rolf@newcom.ca
 

NEW 2014 CASCADIA

(June 06, 2012) -- Freightliner unveils efficient Cascadia Evolution with enhanced DD15

TRAILER SUSPENSION

(June 06, 2012) -- AXN launches modular air-ride suspension

TRAILER REFRIGERATION

(June 06, 2012) -- Carrier Transicold’s newest trailer units feature APX control system

LIGHTING CATALOG

(June 06, 2012) -- Truck-Lite features 50 new products in 2012 supplement

CUMMINS PARTS

(June 06, 2012) -- Mahle Clevite introduces new Cummins catalog