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12-12-2005, 05:52 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,486
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Wal-Mart Working For All of Us
From a wire story:
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, announced that within 10 years it would double the fuel efficiency for its fleet of heavy-duty trucks to an average of 13 miles per gallon"
This is for 80,000 lb. semis. Of course, once they do that they will then learn how to raise the dead and will no longer need trucks or stores to make money.
But if they do acheive this goal, I can only assume that the rest of us will be able to buy trucks to tow our little 6,000 pound Airstreams at a 30 mpg clip, or better. That is something to look forward to.
Mark
__________________
'85 Sovereign, 25'
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12-12-2005, 06:08 PM
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#2
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by j54mark
From a wire story:
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, announced that within 10 years it would double the fuel efficiency for its fleet of heavy-duty trucks to an average of 13 miles per gallon"
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Yep it is called chip the suckers at 45 mph Actually Walmart is better than a lot, they are chipped at 65mph and you seldom see them speeding in the slower speed limit zones, they have onboard recording devices and the drivers can be fired if they are caught exceeding posted.
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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12-12-2005, 06:52 PM
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#3
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Way back in the dark ages...
Of the 1970's, we averaged around 4.5 mpg with a tractor trailer weighing 73,000 pounds, if they are now up to 6.5, and hauling 80,000, that is about a 50% improvement...Only took 30 years to get it. I wonder how they are going to double current mileage in a third of the timespan?
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Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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12-12-2005, 06:56 PM
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#4
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Round on both ends
1979 31' Excella 500
1975 28' Argosy 28
Rutledge
, Georgia
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 783
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Onboard hydrogen generation and injection looks like it'll be good for a few mpgs on the biggies. I don't understand at all how infrequent injection events of hydrogen or propane improves fuel mileage so much.
Lamar
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1975 Argosy 28 "Argosy"
1979 Excella 500 31 "Betsy"
1992 Lincoln Mk 7 LSC
2003 Dodge 2500 Cummins "TowHog"
"Lucy Loosehair" the cat - Airstream mascot
Klaatu barada nikto
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12-12-2005, 07:23 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 790
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You use less fuel for a bigger "BANG" = more go.
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12-12-2005, 07:28 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 23' International CCD
Lapeer
, Michigan
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,082
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garbage trucks
I think I saw on tv that they use an incredible amount of fuel too.
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12-12-2005, 08:05 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
1983 31' Excella
Waterloo
, Iowa
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 355
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Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
Of the 1970's, we averaged around 4.5 mpg with a tractor trailer weighing 73,000 pounds, if they are now up to 6.5, and hauling 80,000, that is about a 50% improvement...Only took 30 years to get it. I wonder how they are going to double current mileage in a third of the timespan?
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Four to four and a half gallons held into the mid to late eighties, then mileage crept up slowly. Our last truck was getting between eight, and eight point three, in 1996. Hauling up to fifty three thousand pound loads of steel or coils! Kept as close to 80,000 gross as possible because as you know, pay for OO's is based on wieght hauled! Bless those lightweight Frieghtliners! Even the cab and a half was light!
They are going to have to go some to double mileage, more like sixteen to the gallon than thirteen. Maybe it was to increase by fifty ercent and someone equated that with doubling? That makes sense to me... say from eight and a half increase by fifty ercent, add four and a quarter, almost thirteen to the gallon!
Going to take more than better engines, though. Will mean making the truck itself more slippery through the air... and redesigning trailers as well. And then there's the flatbed quotient.... how do you make a flatbed load slippery? Think of all the things carried on a flat... from tractors to Airstreams to coils to bar stell to timbers to shiingles and on and on.....
WalMart and fleets that only haul dry freight might be able to do it under ten years...
Elizabeth in Iowa
__________________
The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
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12-12-2005, 08:47 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1975 Argosy 26
1963 24' Tradewind
Seattle
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,341
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Hybrids?
Here in Seattle, we have the first (or so they say) diesel electric buses. They're articulating buses (fairly long).
http://transit.metrokc.gov/am/vehicles/hy-diesel.html
I think they were hoping to get close to 10mpg with them, the reality is that they're getting around 8 in the city. I think the electric works better in the stop/go city cycle vs. the the long haul, but I guess there's promise.
Marc
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12-13-2005, 05:12 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
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I am experimenting with propane injection on my Duramax diesel. Some with the exact same setup as mine have seen 53 mpg on diesel and 21 mpg on LP. Cost per mile is about the same, depending on how much you pay for LP.
I was going to buy a diesel tank for the bed, to extend my cruising range, but it would have been over $1,000. I've achieved the same result for about $550 and got about 85 more horsepower to boot!
http://www.delucafuelproducts.com
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
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