Michelin North America Inc.'s new SmartWay-verified aerodynamic system for tractor-trailers is designed to boost a long-haul fleet’s fuel savings.
New Michelin Energy Guard trailer kit is for use on 53-foot dry-van truck load, refrigerated-truck load and other long-haul and super-regional applications.
The company says Michelin Energy Guard is an easy-to-use, fuel-efficient, aerodynamic solution. Consisting of a resilient trailer skirt, trailer-end fairings, aerodynamic mud flaps and a wake reducer, the integrated kit eliminates the need for “boat tails” or combining elements from various vendors.
With the biggest drag on fuel efficiency occurring at 65 miles per hour, fleets and owner-operators look for aerodynamic solutions that cut fuel costs but do not increase maintenance costs nor require driver attention and costly repairs.
Michelin says that third-party fuel testing by Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions (MVT Solutions) yielded the following results:
- 10 gallons in fuel savings every 1,000 miles, or 8.75 percent fuel savings; and
- $3,972 in fuel saved annually per vehicle
“The Michelin Energy Guard aerodynamic kit has the potential to be a game-changing solution for fleets. Its fuel savings are impressive at 10 gallons per thousand miles, or 8.75%. Even more impressive is the solution achieving this with no driver interaction and no moving parts,” says Daryl Bear, lead engineer and chief operating officer of MVT Solutions.
The patent-pending, fully integrated Energy Guard kit’s components are designed to complement one another, helping fleets reduce fuel consumption without increasing maintenance expenses. The kit consists of a resilient trailer skirt, designed to bend if it strikes an obstacle or debris, while the trailer-end fairings direct airflow around the back of the trailer. The wake reducer minimizes the effect of the recirculation zone behind the trailer. The trailer-end fairings and wake reducer are constantly functioning, requiring no moving parts or driver actions. The aerodynamic mud flaps reduce vehicle drag and road spray.
For more information, visit the Energy Guard product page at www.michelintruck.com website.
