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Influence of Axle Arrangements and Drive Types on the Fuel Consumption of Trucks
Sector:
Language:
German
Abstract
In specialist literature it has been determined that the fuel
consumption of cars travelling at high speed is less with
four-wheel drive than with conventional drive via only one
axle.
The question is whether a previously unused potential saving
also exists here for heavy commercial vehicles. By means of
systematic consumption measurements under various operating
conditions with precise monitoring of the parameters, the fuel
consumption differentials of the axle arrangements 4 X 2, 4 X 4,
and 6 X 4 are determined. Simultaneously, the effect on the
speed/torque collective of the drive engine measured during these
test runs is shown. The results show the same tendency both for the
solo vehicle with a low slip load on the drive axle and for the
tractor vehicle of a heavy long-distance tractor/trailer
combination, while quantitative differences of course exist: the
losses due to additional power transmission elements (transfer
case) outweigh the gain as a result of the lower tractive load on
the drive wheels.
Furthermore, the test arrangement is described, with which the
load collectives are measured and recorded in a form suitable for
computer evaluation. Here great value has been placed on the
possibility of using the method universally for different
applications.