Air Management Kits for Urban Deliveries

Why is it, that when a truck is being used in urban deliveries, therefore at lower speeds, there is an assumption that aerodynamics is of little to no concern?

Unfortunately, it is an assumption our team hear all too often and it is incorrect. Yes, the forces at play on a truck moving 30 mph versus one doing 65 mph are vastly different, but they still exist, and they still impact on the vehicle’s efficiency.

The best way to see aerodynamics and the effect on moving objects is to test the theory yourself. Whilst taking great care… as a car passenger, put your arm horizontally out of your window. Now, bend your arm at the elbow so that your hand and fingers are facing with your palm flat towards the front of your vehicle. See the difference? In the vertical plane (upright position), you can feel your hand being pushed back – but in a horizontal plane (straight out), the forces are much less!

By performing this experiment, it is easy to see that the weight, size, and shape of the object greatly affect the force that is exerted on them. From this, we can determine that the size and weight of the trucks make them far more susceptible to and affected by, aerodynamic drag. As an additional detriment, seasons and climate can also increase the effects of drag. In cold conditions, the air surrounding the truck is denser, intensifying the friction and decreasing the fuel efficiency.

So, how can you combat these effects in your fleet of vehicles?

A truck and trailer travelling through the air creates drag. By minimizing the drag as much as possible, you can directly impact the amount of fuel consumed by the truck during its trip.

Aerodyne have a range of Air Management Kits (AMKs) that are designed to be fitted to trucks as an aftermarket addition. These kits alleviate the drag effect caused by the exposed area of the trucks trailer above the cabin.

To demonstrate the drag effect, let us look at a 3.5 tonne truck in an urban setting. As you can see from the graph below, when travelling at 30mph (the city speed limit), 64% of the engine power is used to overcome aero drag. Do you notice the significant increase in drag between 14 and 30 mph?

Therefore, it is safe to assume that by improving the aerodynamics even at low speeds will produce a worthwhile fuel saving.

Having the incorrect aerodynamic set up can, and does regularly cost fleet operators thousands of pounds, per truck, every single year. This cost can be vastly reduced by installing an AMK to the vehicle.

By reducing the area of exposed bulkhead with an AMK, it is then possible to dramatically decrease the drag imposed on the vehicle and therefore the amount of power (fuel) required to drive through the oncoming air flow.

Want to learn more about our products and application of aerodynamic technology? Then contact our offices on 01778 422 000 or email sales@aerodyneuk.com for drawings, prices, and technical information.