Mercedes Benz has designed a concept haulage trailer that reduces wind resistance by 18 percent and improves fuel economy by 5 percent.
The product, with the working title "Aero Trailer", was unveiled at the Trailer 2011 trade show in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Innovations in the concept trailer include a front airdam that reduces the distance to the tractor unit and lowers the wind resistance by 1 percent and side trim panels. The trim panels themselves are slightly drawn-in at the front and have a wide opening at the rear to steer the air in the direction of an air diffuser. The trim contributes an 8 percent improvement in wind resistance, Mercedez Benz says.
A further 7 percent of the improvements combating wind resistance comes from a 15 inch taper on the trucks rear end.
The improvements against wind resistance have led to, on average, a 5 percent improvement in fuel economy in what Mercedes calls real-world traffic.
In the case of an average mileage of 93,000 miles a year, this means savings of 528 gallons of diesel fuel and relieves the burden on the environment to the tune of over five metric tons of CO2 per year, Mercedes says.
Mercedes recently purchased microcar manufacturer Smart USA. At the time Smart announced an advertising drive aimed at improving flagging sales.
