Aerodynamics
for manufacturers
On long-haul, trucks and coaches use 30-60% of their energy to overcome aerodynamic drag. The true extent depends on the air-speed approaching the vehicle, which in turn depends on many factors such as driving cycle, wind and load.
VECTO is the benchmark
and an opportunity for manufacturers
The uniform VECTO standard is used in the EU to determine the CO2 emissions or contributions of trucks, trailers and coaches. It is binding for all manufacturers when delivering large quantities. Within the VECTO legislation, it is also possible to certify improvements to aerodynamics in order to achieve better VECTO ratings. In future, these ratings will be decisive for compliance with manufacturer fleet limits or the level of CO2 toll charges. The great opportunity of VECTO for manufacturers: how much a saving measure brings is regulated in a standardized and physics-based way.
5% Auxiliaries
46% Aerodynamics
5% Braking
44% Rolling
Exemplary composition of consumption on the long haul
We optimize your products
and make you even more competitive
We examine and optimize your products in the context of the overall vehicle and take into account all boundary conditions from technology, product management, practice, TCO, homologation, design and production. Our aim is to achieve optimum overall performance.
Example for a tractor optimization:
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Optimization of the exterior with simultaneous efficient cooling of the drive, auxiliary consumers and brakes.
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Design of body kits or new developments.
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Optimization with regard to optimum VECTO performance in conjunction with standard trailers.
Example for a trailer optimization:
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Optimization of the exterior with simultaneous efficient cooling of generator axles and brakes.
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Development of aerodynamic components. Conversion of equipment components into aerodynamic components.
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Certification of aerodynamic components in accordance with VECTO Trailer regulation EU 2022/1362.
Example for a coach optimization:
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Optimization of the exterior with simultaneous efficient cooling of the drive, auxiliary consumers and brakes
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Optimization for optimum VECTO performance
Your development project could look like this:
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Discussion and recording of all boundary conditions and dependencies
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Potential analysis of the initial state by means of CFD aerodynamic simulation of your vehicle or component models and then by means of driving efficiency simulations such as VECTO
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Step-by-step analytical aerodynamic shape optimization of your product
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Final evaluation of the optimized geometry in VECTO and dedicated design recommendations based on the last optimization stage
This is what the potential looks like
Typical cD values for truck-trailer-combinations are in the region of 0.55. The tractor and trailer each have great potential, so that an optimized truck-trailer-combination can have 30% better aerodynamics in today's context. Depending on the driving profile, this means fuel consumption improvements of 10-15%.
Truck-trailer-combinations of the future may even have 50% better aerodynamics - with full usability. A cD value of 0.27 instead of 0.55 is possible. Depending on the driving profile, this means fuel consumption improvements of 16-25%.
Typical cD values for coaches are in the region of 0.40. Here, there is also still great potential, so that an optimized coach can have 25% better aerodynamics in today's context. Depending on the driving profile, this means fuel consumption improvements of 8-15%.