Road Trials
David Fox Transport has been carrying out trials using the AMC System. The results have proved to be very encouraging and the figures on this page show the increased fuel economy that can be achieved by using the AMC System.
Fox's have two new MAN tractor units arriving shortly and they will be fitted with the latest version and their own trials indicate a saving of between 3-4% on fuel consumption when the air kit is adjusted properly to its correct position.
Operating @ 44 tons
Say 7.5mpg x 4% = 7.8mpg = 0.3mpg improvement.
An annual fuel bill of £3,000,000 x 4% = £120,000
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Increased fuel economy |
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No Air Deflector VS Full Air Management System |
This is an extreme test but demonstrates the difference between using no air deflector and using a Full Air Management System correctly aligned with the leading edge of the trailer.
Test Vehicle
Two vehicles were used for this test (both vehicles usually average the same fuel consumption when using the same deflector set up):
DAF XF95 with no air deflector fitted.
DAF CF85 fitted with a Full Air Management System and High Lift AMC kit, extended to a height of 15'5".
Journey
Middlesbrough - Lutterworth - Telford - Washington - Middlesbrough (540 miles).
Results
DAF XF95 with no air deflector: 7.5 mpg, fuel cost £278.00 (328 litres).
DAF CF85 with Full Air Management System: 9.9 mpg, fuel cost £207.00 (244 litres).
The fuel cost saving per trip when using the Air Management System is £71.00.
This is an incredible increase in fuel economy.
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Increased fuel economy by 11.6% |
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Low Deflector Height VS Correct Deflector Height |
This test demonstrates the difference between having the air deflector set too low and having the air deflector correctly aligned with the leading edge of the trailer.
Test Vehicle
DAF CF85 tractor unit with Lawrence David double deck body mounted on a 13.6m SDC step frame semi-trailer chassis (GVW 44 tonnes). Fitted with a full Air Management System in conjunction with the High Lift AMC Kit.
Journey
East to west return trip over the Pennines on the M62 loaded both ways (380 miles).
Results
Low deflector height: journey average of 6.9 mpg, fuel cost £202.54.
Correct deflector height: journey average of 7.7 mpg, fuel cost £183.43.
The fuel cost saving per trip with the deflector set at the correct height is £19.11.
This is an 11.6% increase in fuel economy. This equates to a saving of £0.0503 per mile (£19.11 / 380). Assuming the annual mileage is 60,000 miles, this is a saving of £3017 a year.
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Increased fuel economy by 6.4% |
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Standard Deflector VS Full Air Management System |
This test demonstrates the difference between having a standard manual air deflector set at the maximum height and having a high-lift AMC System allowing the air deflector to be correctly aligned with the leading edge of the trailer.
Test Vehicle
Two vehicles were used for this test (both vehicles usually average the same fuel consumption when using the same deflector set up):
DAF XF105 with standard manual deflector, extended to the maximum height of 14'10".
DAF CF85 fitted with a Full Air Management System and High Lift AMC kit, extended to a height of 15'5".
Journey
Middlesbrough - Lutterworth - Middlesbrough (366 miles), a journey that is performed daily by David Fox Transport. The results are averaged over an 8 week cycle.
Results
DAF XF105 with standard spoiler: 9.4 mpg, fuel cost £148.00 (175 litres).
DAF CF85 with Full Air Management System: 10.0 mpg, fuel cost £140.00 (166 litres).
The fuel cost saving per trip when using the Air Management System is £8.00.
This is a 6.4% increase in fuel economy.
This journey is driven 363 days a year, so the annual saving is £2904.
