Energy Efficiency in Heavy Vehicle Tires, Drivetrains, and Braking Systems

Technical Report · Wed Apr 26 04:00:00 EDT 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/771207· OSTI ID:771207

Blau, Peter J

This document was prepared to support the primary goals of the Department of Energy, Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies. These were recently stated as follows: ''Develop by 2004 the enabling technologies for a class 7-8 truck with a fuel efficiency of 10 mpg (at 65 mph) which will meet prevailing emission standards. For Class 3-6 trucks operating on an urban driving cycle, develop by 2004 commercially viable vehicles that achieve at least double the fuel economy of comparable current vehicles (1999), and as a research goal, reduce criteria pollutants to 30% below EPA standards. Develop by 2004 the diesel engine enabling technologies to support large-scale industry dieselization of Class 1 and 2 trucks, achieving a 35 % fuel efficiency improvement over comparable gasoline-fueled trucks, while meeting applicable emissions standards.'' The enabling technologies for improving the fuel efficiency of trucks, include not only engine technologies but also technologies involved with lowering the rolling resistance of tires, reducing vehicle aerodynamic drag, improving thermal management, and reducing parasitic frictional losses in drive train components. Opportunities also exist for making better use of the energy that might ordinarily be dissipated during vehicle braking. Braking systems must be included in this evaluation since safety in truck operations is vital, and braking requirements are greater for vehicles having lowered resistance to rolling. The Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies has initiated a program to improve the aerodynamics of heavy vehicles through wind tunnel testing, computational modeling, and on-road evaluations. That activity is described in a separate multi-year plan; therefore, emphasis in this document will be on tires, drive trains, and braking systems. Recent, dramatic fluctuations in diesel fuel prices have emphasized the importance of effecting savings in truck fuel economy by implementing new component designs and materials.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies (OHVT) (EE-33) (US)
• OSTI ID: 771207
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-2000/177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
AERODYNAMICS
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
BRAKES
DIESEL ENGINES
DIESEL FUELS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EXHAUST GASES
FUEL CONSUMPTION
MECHANICAL TRANSMISSIONS
TIRES
TRUCKS
WIND TUNNELS