Seven trucks over 17 days and 31,000 miles averaged 10.1 mpg overall in the Run on Less fuel-economy road show. The three-week experience kicked off from multiple locations across the United States and culminates at the North American Commercial Vehicle inaugural show in Atlanta, going on this week, September 24 to 28, 2017. As of Saturday, 3 of the 7 trucks had arrived in Atlanta.
Run on Less stressed that the demonstration involved real drivers on real roads, hauling real freight. The trucks are equipped with different efficiency technologies, all commercially available, and range from 6x2s and automated transmissions to aerodynamics. Together they saved $4500 and 1800 gallons of diesel fuel using different technologies to achieve the best fuel economy possible.
There are about 1.7 million over-the-road trucks driving in the United States and they average about 6.4 miles per gallon. The trucks participating in Run On Less had highest daily miles per gallon of 12.8 and lowest daily miles per gallon of 7.4. The differences in mileage were driven by wind, weight of the load, and elevation. If other trucks could replicate these results, the industry could save up to $24 billion annually.
Run on Less is led by North American Council for Freight Efficiency, and Carbon War Room, with Shell and PepsiCo as the title sponsors. The trucks were part of fleets from Albert Transport, Hirschbach, PepsiCo’s Frito Lay, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Ploger Transportation, Nussbaum, and U.S. Xpress. GeoTab provided the devices used to monitor the trucks.
