Commercial Vehicle Engineering: Energy Efficiency and Fuel Strategies

Authors

Prof. Dr.-Ing. K. V. Schaller, Mitglied des Vorstands, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG, München

Year

2008

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 672

Summary

It will probably come as a surprise to many people, but commercial vehicles account for the same share of global CO2 emissions as cars – approx. 6 % each. With the growth in this sector that is sure to materialise for macroeconomic reasons, the commercialvehicle industry must find even better answers to make transport highly efficient – i.e. how do we provide a tonne kilometre (our unit of performance) with minimal energy input. It is pleasing to see that there are a large number of efficient approaches to this; the most important driving forces behind this are dimensions, weights and the associated aerodynamic adjustments. Here, as with the necessary expansion of the infrastructure, political support is necessary. Parallel to this fuel strategies which promise success in the long term must be implemented; these must function not only in the laboratory – the vehicle industry can build vehicles for almost any theoretically possible fuel – but have the potential for economical and reliable use in threshold countries too to supplement conventional fuels.

We should also remember that the emission limits in force around the world are changing very quickly. The threshold countries in particular are following the lead of the hightech countries ever more closely. It is almost no longer possible to pass on "old" technology.

When Euro VI comes, for example, the particulate emissions will have been reduced by 99 % over the last 20 years – this was a real challenge for engine developers. Unfortunately, these impressive figures are not enough for some stakeholders – the commercialvehicle industry too is increasingly being confronted with unforeseen demands that can hardly be satisfied. For this reason too conferences like this one are so important as an opportunity to find out where we are in terms of technology and as a platform for communicating the fantastic progress made over the last few years.

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