Michelin branches into SmartWay aero devices

ATLANTA — Michelin North America is taking its research into fuel economy in the trucking industry one step beyond tires with the launch of the Michelin Energy Guard, a SmartWay-verified aerodynamic trailer solution kit.

Michelin claims using the Energy Guard kit — consisting of a resilient trailer skirt, trailer-end fairings, aerodynamic mud flaps and a wake reducer — on a 53-foot trailer can yield fuel savings at 65 mph of up to 7.4 percent.

While there are multiple aerodynamic kits available on the market, Michelin claims its integrated Energy Guard kit eliminates the need for "boat tails" or combining elements from various vendors.

Michelin is debuting the kit — along with a harsh-weather version of its X One wide-base single tire line — at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Atlanta.

The patent-pending Energy Guard kit features innovations such as a flexible skirt design that folds out of the way if it strikes an obstacle or debris. The kit's trailer-end fairings direct airflow to the back of the trailer, where a wake reducer minimizes the effect of the recirculation zone behind the trailer.

The kit even includes aerodynamic mud flaps that reduce vehicle drag and road spray, Michelin said.

"Fleets can be frustrated with the current market solutions for fuel savings as they strive to improve their margins and competitiveness," said Adam Murphy, vice president, B2B marketing, Michelin North America, who stressed that the fuel savings can be achieved with no driver interaction.

Michelin is marketing the kit at owners/operators of dry-van truck load, refrigerated truck load and other long-haul and super-regional applications.

The addition to the X-One line is the Grip D drive tire, which Michelin claims offers 25-percent better snow traction than a leading competitive tire. The Grip D carries the "three peak mountain snowflake" designation for use in severe snow conditions, thanks to its wide, open shoulder grooves.

Available in 445/50R22.5 and 455/55R22.5 sizes, the tire will meet SmartWay requirements and is greenhouse-gas regulation compliant.

Michelin claims using the Grip D in place of duals allows fleets to carry 389 pounds of additional payload and can cut fuel consumption by more than 180 gallons — valued at about $550 at current prices — for a rig that travels 100,000 miles a year.