Some aerodynamic improvements ‘could be waste of money’
The technical director of trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull has warned that fleets which incorrectly specify aerodynamic add-ons for their trailers could be wasting their money.
Derek Skinner (pictured) raised the concerns following the discovery that buyers were requesting aerodynamic features such as vortex generators or side skirts, without ensuring whether the additions would genuinely reduce fuel costs – or whether they may, in some cases, increase them.
Since aerodynamic features increase a vehicle’s weight, this could negate any fuel-saving benefits depending on how the trailer is used, Skinner contends. The operator may even incur additional fuel costs and be left with a vehicle which produces more CO2, not less.
Said Skinner: “There is a prevailing school of thought that you should specify aerodynamic add-ons simply because it makes a trailer look more economical and environmentally friendly to the unassuming general public, without any reference to the actual financial or environmental argument.
“In most circumstances, you’ll save more money simply by specifying a trailer with a lighter chassis.”
He argued that calculating the impact of add-ons was complex, requiring knowledge of factors such as the mass density of air and drag coefficients.
Schmitz Cargobull deploys a methodology used by the University of Huddersfield to simplify this process, thereby determining the exact benefit of any additional aerodynamic features.
“Aerodynamic add-ons can be a benefit in certain circumstances, but any business looking to specify trailers needs to properly understand how they intend to use them, and this involves doing the research and understanding the numbers,” added Derek Skinner.
“The science shows that a trailer with full aerodynamics ends up being less economical than a standard Schmitz Cargobull trailer when its motorway miles drop below 65 to 75 per cent. If your trailer’s mileage on the motorway is sub-optimal, add-ons are probably a waste of time and money.”
