Mercedes-Benz New Ultra-Green Tractor Trailer

[Eric1]

Check out what the Germans are working on.

In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 2 million tractor trailers in active service. Trailers serve as the main transportation method for goods in much of the world, and are also big contributors of greenhouse gases and other air pollution. Mercedes-Benz is trying to address some of the pollution problem with a concept for a new aerodynamic semi-trailer called the Aero. The trailer dramatically improves fuel efficiency, with an 18% reduction over conventional box trailers (with a corresponding 5% reduction in fuel consumption in regular traffic).

However, at the moment, the trailer isn’t street legal. Part of the design of the trailer includes a tapered extension to the tail end that runs a foot and a half past the maximum allowable trailer length in Europe. Mercedes-Benz claims that this taper accounts for a third of the improvement in efficiency and feel a change to the law is needed. “The fundamental feature of the revolutionary Aero trailer is to be found in the trailer’s load compartment, whose dimensions remain totally unaffected. The familiar box – measuring 13.6 m in length, 2.55 m in width and with an overall height of four metres – remains available for the freight, just as before.” Check back for updates, and be sure to view the photos of Mercedes-Benz’s Aero below.​

 

[cableguymn]

So it's to long. take a few feet out of the middle.. that oughta fix it. Judging by the renderings the rear doors might be a tad bit hard to get open with that overhang.. Also I question bumping loading docks.

Also, ditching the flat nose tractor might help.

Hopefully it makes it to the highways in a form that is practical. I don't buy in to the environment green stuff. But if it puts green in my wallet I am all ears.

 

[LDB]

I like it. Make it with a sleeper like the Kenworth 84" and about 9 meters box length and it would be killer.

 

[paullud]

It looks like the trailers that are run here by MVT.

Sent from my ADR6400L using EO Forums

 

[moose]

Also, ditching the flat nose tractor might help..

Actually the DAF-195 was tested last year @ the Freightliner wind tunnel in Portland, and got the best results ever to be achieved by a class 8 truck to date.
that's include the Cascedia.
the OP Bentz puller got the best results ever in the Nurenburg wind tunnel.
(If)when we reach 7 $ a gallon over time, like this administration promises,
you will see new flat screen trucks hitting the long haul roads.

keep in mind that in Europe trucks are governed to never top 110 Klicks,
at those speeds head wind do not effect drags as much as streaming lines and side winds.

it is kind of depends what you compering the drag to ?
if this a fuel consumption vs load capacity ?
or maybe per HP ?
or load capacity vs length ?
it is actually hard to compare conventional trucks to flat screens, because flats are being used for different applications, in places where conventional tractors are simply too long.