US trailermanufacturer Wabash has unleashed details about it’s efforts in taking part of the American Super Truck project. At Iepieleaks, we have displayed trucks constructed under the Super Truck project before, think of the Volvo, Freightliner and International examples. Now, we’ve had the opportunity to show something about the trailer.
Wabash National’s trailer includes a number of aerodynamic trailer devices, three of which were based on the company’s commercially available skirt and tail devices and nose fairing. The aerodynamic improvements reduced the trailer’s drag coefficient by more than 30 percent, according to Navistar.
In addition to the aerodynamic device additions, Wabash National reduced the weight of the trailer by more than 2,000 pounds, compared to its 2009 dry van. All components used to reduce the weight of the trailer, such as wide-base single tires and a variety of aluminum componentry, are commercially available, Wabash says.
Wabash National was part of Navistar’s SuperTruck team—one of four industry teams to participate in the SuperTruck program. Navistar unveiled its SuperTruck on September 28, reporting a huge improvement in freight efficiency. The average tractor-trailer gets 6 miles per gallon; Navistar and Wabash National’s SuperTruck combination vehicle gets over 13 miles per gallon.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s SuperTruck program, a five-year research and development initiative, focused on improving freight efficiency (the amount of freight hauled per gallon of fuel used) by 50 percent compared to 2009 base model heavy-duty tractor-trailer vehicles.