The Greenery, which supplies fruit and vegetables to supermarkets and wholesalers in the UK, is evaluating aerodynamic trailers designed to cut fleet fuel consumption levels.
Its semitrailer was formally launched in Delft by Dutch finance minister Jan Kees de Jager.
The semitrailers are equipped with Ephicas SideWings – streamlined panels, mounted on the sides of a semitrailer, that are said to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 7%.
The panels have been developed by Ephicas, a spin-off from Delft University of Technology. In addition to generating substantial cost savings and environmental benefits, its SideWings improve traffic safety and reduce road noise, according to the company.
Designed and tested in the wind tunnel of Delft University of Technology, the SideWings were designed using aviation and space technology, with a wing profile mounted to the inside of the first panel.
Ephicas says this technology achieves twice the performance of conventional side panels.
