A lot of attention has been put on passenger car emissions lately, leaving larger vehicles to essentially skate by unscathed. However, the other shoe is about to drop, with tougher regulations now being formulated for the heavy-duty vehicles of the world.
Truck maker MAN is trying to stay ahead of the curve with an all-new concept set to debut at IAA 2010. Dubbed the MAN Concept S, the design concept represents a major step forward in big rig fuel economy.
Although MAN didn’t outline the Concept S’ powertrain, the truck maker says the rig’s aerodynamic shape can cut fuel consumption – and thereby emissions – by 25 percent. Given that most tractor trailers average between 5 and 6 mpg, that translates to as much as a 1.5mpg increase.
While that may not seem like a lot to that average car driver, you have to keep in mind that a fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – or roughly the weight of 20 mid-sized crossovers. Moreover, a single truck can cover more than 200,000 miles in a single year, so a 25 percent jump in fuel economy for a 5mpg truck can save about 8,000 gallons of fuel a year. Multiply that by the millions of trucks on the world’s road and you’re suddenly talking about a serious reduction in CO2 emissions.
However, MAN says the Concept S need s longer trail to reach maximum efficiency, which is currently outlawed by European regulations. MAN is hopeful the Concept S will spark a meaningful debate, ultimately leading to a change in the regulations.
