Articles
Truckmaker MAN has developed an aerodynamically-enhanced commercial vehicle known as the Concept S which is ready for road trials.
Two MAN "long trucks" are to participate in field trials which will be held throughout Germany early next year. The Concept S is designed to be more aerodynamic than existing trucks without losing load-carrying capacity.
MAN said: “With its streamlined design, the MAN Concept S differs radically from the basically cubic shape of the conventional truck currently to be seen on the motorways.
“We’ve primarily worked on the aerodynamics: the Concept S has a slim front end, projecting wheel arches, a cab with soft, smooth lines and a curved rear wall.”
The truck is slightly longer than conventional trucks in order to enable it to carry the same number of pallets as a standard design.
MAN said the truck’s length helped to make it more aerodynamic, reducing rolling and air resistance. MAN said: “With their drag coefficients of around 0.5, today’s forward control trucks have reached a level of aerodynamics that can hardly be improved any more under the existing statutory restrictions on maximum permissible dimensions. “Major improvements in reducing air resistance will only be possible when the restrictions on maximum dimensions permitted by law are loosened or replaced by alternative regulations.
“With its drag coefficient of around 0.3, the MAN Concept S enters a domain of aerodynamic quality previously inhabited only by modern passenger limousines.”
Dr Georg Pachta-Reyhofen of MAN said: “We are convinced that in long trucks, we are testing a technology of the future that will allow a considerable reduction of CO2 emissions.”
In many EU countries, maximum truck length is currently restricted to 16.5m for semitrailers and 18.75m for articulated trains. Manufacturers and operators believe that longer trucks will prove significantly more efficient in goods transport by road.
The gross weight of the vehicles will remain unchanged.