How Much
Fuel Do Trucks Use?
The primary objective of the 21st Century Truck initiative is to develop technologies
that will reduce fuel use per ton of product delivered per mile by trucks. The
focus is on commercial trucks, whose primary purpose is to move goods rather than
people. This program, initiated by the White House and the truck industry, recognizes
that productive, innovative trucking and supporting industries are essential for
economic prosperity. Because the scope is wide-ranging, from small commercial
pickup trucks to urban delivery vans to large long-haul tractor-trailers, it is
essential to identify which classes of trucks are important from a fuel use perspective
so that appropriate attention is given to those classes that consume the most
fuel. While fuel efficiency goals were set for Class 8 long-haul trucks, Class
2b (pickup) trucks, and Class 6 (delivery van) trucks, the effect of the truck
fleet by class on overall fuel consumption was not known
Argonne examined in detail the patterns of fuel use of commercial trucks, making
use of the 1997 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) that has been completed
(Census 1999 and 2000). The analysis of the VIUS was undertaken to attempt to
define "typical" truck types that represent the largest amount of fuel
use.
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Fuel
Use by Truck Class and Trip Length
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Results
Fuel use of Class 8 trucks, at 18 billion gallons per year, far exceeds that
of commercial trucks in any other weight class. Class 6 and Class 2b use the next
largest amount of fuel, but both are well under 4 billion gallons per year. Class
8 trucks with trip length of less than 100 miles (typical urban delivery trucks)
use more fuel than either Class 6 trucks or Class 2b trucks. (Class 8 trucks may
be termed "heavy" trucks, class 6 trucks may be termed "medium,"
and Class 2b trucks may be termed "light.")
In a separate analysis of body types, we determined that the vast majority
of Class 2b trucks are pickup trucks. The next-largest magnitude of fuel consumption
by body type was for "panel, multistop, and step vans," at about one-fourth
the fuel consumption of pickup trucks. Accordingly, the typical, or baseline Class
2b truck is a pickup truck.
The implication of our findings is that, for a significant effect on truck
energy use, participants in the 21st Century initiative should focus on technologies
for Class 8 long-haul trucks and Class 8 trucks with urban use.
A separate analysis of energy losses points toward reduced aerodynamic drag
and reduced tire rolling resistance as important areas of research for Class 8
long-haul trucks, which typically operate at high speeds and loads. Hybrid powertrains
appear to be promising for Class 8 urban use trucks, where stop-and-go driving
is prevalent. While energy use is small for the other classes of trucks (Classes
2b-6), they typically operate in urban areas. In these cases, air quality is an
issue, not energy use.
Future
Plans
Argonne plans to continue active participation in developing the roadmap for
the 21st Century Truck initiative and related studies covering truck energy and
emissions and hybrid powertrain modeling and evaluation. Our staff is leadng the
development of the Class 2b truck technical plan and are active participants in
the Class 6 truck technical planning process. We also expect to be active in the
21st Century Truck prototype development and testing activities.
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