ESTIMATES OF FUEL SAVINGS FROM PLATOONING

Aerodynamic drag data are recorded in a wind tunnel for platoons of closely spaced vehicles containing two, three, and four members. The model vehicles used are one-eighth-scale Lumina vans. The average drag coefficients for platoon operation show substantial reductions compared to an isolated vehicle for all intervehicle spacings less than one vehicle length. Drag coefficients are extrapolated for platoons containing a larger number of vehicles. Based on the predictions of drag reduction, the savings in fuel consumption are estimated using an established formula. Reductions in fuel consumption are presented as a function of both intervehicle spacing and the number of vehicles in the platoon. Results indicate, for example, that a platoon containing 12 vehicles is likely to experience a 25-percent savings in fuel consumption at nominal intervehicle spacings of 0.1-0.3 vehicle lengths.