Reducing the energy consumption of heavy goods vehicles through the application of lightweight trailers: Fleet case studies

Joel Galos,Michael Sutcliffe,David Cebon,Maja Piecyk,Philip Greening

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2015.09.010

Joel Galos, Michael Sutcliffe + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2015.09.010

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Abstract

Reducing the empty weight of articulated heavy goods vehicle trailers is one avenue that needs to be explored in reducing the carbon footprint of the road freight industry as a whole. A statistical analysis of two heavy goods vehicle fleets operating in the United Kingdom has helped to identify double-deck trailers used in grocery haulage and ‘walking-floor’ trailers used in bulk haulage as two examples of trailers that can benefit significantly from lightweighting. Energy consumption of numerous articulated heavy goods vehicles is quantified through an idealised drive cycle analysis reflecting a long haul journey over a highway. This energy analysis allows for a mass energy performance index to be established. The analysis has shown that reducing the empty weight of trailers by 30% can cause reductions of up to 18% and 11% in mass energy performance index for double-deck trailers and ‘walking-floor’ trailers respectively. Using this approach, trailers that will benefit the most from weight reduction can be identified systematically, allowing for lightweighting strategies to be implemented more effectively. Strategies to reduce empty trailer weight and improve vehicle utilisation are also discussed.

Highlights

Road freight is without doubt the dominant medium for goods transportation throughout the United Kingdom (UK) and there are no indications of this changing in the foreseeable future
Section ‘Energy consumption estimation through an idealised drive cycle analysis’ showed that up to an 11% reduction in mass energy performance index of 44 tonne bulk haulage vehicles is achievable by reducing empty trailer weight by 30% and increasing payload weight until the vehicle reaches its maximum legal gross vehicle weight (GVW)
Reducing the empty weight of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) trailers used in mass-limited operations can bring significant energy consumption savings which will lead to a reduction in both operation costs and carbon footprint

Summary

Introduction

Road freight is without doubt the dominant medium for goods transportation throughout the United Kingdom (UK) and there are no indications of this changing in the foreseeable future. In 2010, of the total freight movements within Great Britain, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) accounted for 68% of the total tonne-kilometres and 82% of total tonnes lifted (Department for Transport, 2012a). Road freight transport is having an adverse effect on the environment as it accounts for approximately 5% of the UK’s carbon footprint (Department for Transport, 2012a). New aggressive targets established by the UK government aim to drastically reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2050. The total empty weight of articulated road freight vehicles is the combination of the empty weight of the tractor unit and the empty weight of the trailer. By reducing the empty mass of the trailer the energy efficiency of the vehicle as a whole can be improved

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