4 ms·

...so long as they remember to only turn right (UPS style) then this should be fuel efficient. In reality though this truck is not currently or likely to be ec

...so long as they remember to only turn right (UPS style) then this should be fuel efficient. In reality though this truck is not currently or likely to be economically viable. In Europe Mercedes have had a problem selling their latest and greatest 'eco' truck as it costs more and the fuel savings just don't cover the added up-front expense.

bjz_ 13y ago
If carbon emissions were priced, then maybe these kinds of technologies would be more viable.
- icebraining 13y ago
  In many European countries, they are, as part of a fuel tax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Europe
  - cbr 13y ago
    While fuel is more expensive in Europe, their trucks are actually less aerodynamic, with big flat fronts [1]. This is because truck lengths are strictly limited, so a shorter cab means you can run a longer trailer. Even with their high fuel costs the gains from the longer trailer outweigh the savings from better aerodynamics. [1] http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Images/May08/15_Mercedes_Benz_CharterWay_European_Championship/646054_1157374_4252_2835_08A421.jpg http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Images/May08/15_Mercedes_Benz_C...
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- ars 13y ago
  > If carbon emissions were priced They are. Fuel isn't free. Surcharging carbon dioxide would affect the choice of fuel, but would have no effect on aerodynamic efficiency since that applies to all fuels equally.
pdq 13y ago
Big rigs are not concerned with turning right vs left for efficiency. They rarely need to turn at all, because they do long distance hauls (either between states or cities).
- crymer11 13y ago
  Except when they're navigating to/from the highway and their destination within the city, picking up and delivering loads, and stopping at a truck stop for fuel, food, or rest. The above is just for OTR (over the road, i.e. long haul), and you've got regional drivers, many who spend all day making deliveries within a much, much smaller geographical area.
saosebastiao 13y ago
It is likely more efficient for trucks to only turn left. Turning right often takes more time than turning left, as a right turn can often involve waiting for traffic to move out of your way. Back when I drove trucks, any time I had to drive in SF, I purposely chose left turning routes for this reason. The reason fuel efficient trucks are so much more expensive is because they are bought by companies with accountants and finance departments instead of guilt-ridden liberals. They have to actually demonstrate ROI in order to sell well. With the margin padding that manufacturers and dealers expect, that ROI is often washed away. With a company like WalMart doing the design, with contract manufacturing, they likely could make a decent return.
- Theodores 13y ago
  Thanks for your comment and perspective. My quip regarding UPS was a carry over from a thread that was on here yesterday with not a lot of thought beyond that! (Allegedly for UPS it is more efficient for them to do routes with no right turns.) It figures that big trucks prefer right turns but until you pointed it out here I had not put two and two together, despite anecdotal evidence I see on a daily basis. This is actually useful knowledge as I share the road with the big trucks. I ride one of those vehicles where I am the crumple zone (a bicycle) in London where a lot of cyclists get killed down inside the left-hand side of left-turning trucks (we drive on the left and call 'trucks' 'lorries'). There is a lot of consternation about this with truck drivers tarred with the same brush quite unfairly (in my opinion they are professional drivers, cyclists, nah). A little bit of understanding could help. In all the debate I have seen I have never seen it mentioned how left turns (in the UK) are particularly tricky for long vehicles as they need to use the on-coming traffic lane of the road they are turning into or the road they are on. This little detail needs to be widely understood by cyclists, it is not as if lorry drivers are being deliberately retarded and un-caring, a left turn is something very difficult for them and well beyond what a mere cyclist is capable of.

bjz_ 13y ago

If carbon emissions were priced, then maybe these kinds of technologies would be more viable.

icebraining 13y ago
In many European countries, they are, as part of a fuel tax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Europe
- cbr 13y ago
  While fuel is more expensive in Europe, their trucks are actually less aerodynamic, with big flat fronts [1]. This is because truck lengths are strictly limited, so a shorter cab means you can run a longer trailer. Even with their high fuel costs the gains from the longer trailer outweigh the savings from better aerodynamics. [1] http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Images/May08/15_Mercedes_Benz_CharterWay_European_Championship/646054_1157374_4252_2835_08A421.jpg http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Images/May08/15_Mercedes_Benz_C...
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
ars 13y ago
> If carbon emissions were priced They are. Fuel isn't free. Surcharging carbon dioxide would affect the choice of fuel, but would have no effect on aerodynamic efficiency since that applies to all fuels equally.

pdq 13y ago

Big rigs are not concerned with turning right vs left for efficiency. They rarely need to turn at all, because they do long distance hauls (either between states or cities).

crymer11 13y ago
Except when they're navigating to/from the highway and their destination within the city, picking up and delivering loads, and stopping at a truck stop for fuel, food, or rest. The above is just for OTR (over the road, i.e. long haul), and you've got regional drivers, many who spend all day making deliveries within a much, much smaller geographical area.

saosebastiao 13y ago

It is likely more efficient for trucks to only turn left. Turning right often takes more time than turning left, as a right turn can often involve waiting for traffic to move out of your way. Back when I drove trucks, any time I had to drive in SF, I purposely chose left turning routes for this reason. The reason fuel efficient trucks are so much more expensive is because they are bought by companies with accountants and finance departments instead of guilt-ridden liberals. They have to actually demonstrate ROI in order to sell well. With the margin padding that manufacturers and dealers expect, that ROI is often washed away. With a company like WalMart doing the design, with contract manufacturing, they likely could make a decent return.

Theodores 13y ago
Thanks for your comment and perspective. My quip regarding UPS was a carry over from a thread that was on here yesterday with not a lot of thought beyond that! (Allegedly for UPS it is more efficient for them to do routes with no right turns.) It figures that big trucks prefer right turns but until you pointed it out here I had not put two and two together, despite anecdotal evidence I see on a daily basis. This is actually useful knowledge as I share the road with the big trucks. I ride one of those vehicles where I am the crumple zone (a bicycle) in London where a lot of cyclists get killed down inside the left-hand side of left-turning trucks (we drive on the left and call 'trucks' 'lorries'). There is a lot of consternation about this with truck drivers tarred with the same brush quite unfairly (in my opinion they are professional drivers, cyclists, nah). A little bit of understanding could help. In all the debate I have seen I have never seen it mentioned how left turns (in the UK) are particularly tricky for long vehicles as they need to use the on-coming traffic lane of the road they are turning into or the road they are on. This little detail needs to be widely understood by cyclists, it is not as if lorry drivers are being deliberately retarded and un-caring, a left turn is something very difficult for them and well beyond what a mere cyclist is capable of.