The Aerodynamic Teardrop Trailer: Efficiency on the Road
Why Teardrop™ Trailers?
The aerodynamic and patented shape of the Don-Bur Teardrop™ has been well proven since 2006 to return generous fuel savings without affecting internal load footprint.
The streamlined HGV trailer profile generates rapid payback and highlights your company's environmental stance.
Learn about the effects of aerodynamics
Chat with us online nowFeatures
The Teardrop™, first conceived by the Don-Bur design team in 2006, is a unique and innovative commercial vehicle shape that mimics the natural and perfect aerodynamic properties of a liquid droplet.
- Reduces Fuel Consumption
- Cuts CO2 Emissions
- Cost-effective product with a rapid pay-back period
- Maintains a striking, aesthetically pleasing design
The Teardrop™ Origin
Shape modification of moving vehicles has been proven for some time to improve aerodynamic performance.
In the 1950's and 60's, aerodynamics played a crucial role to the design of racing cars, where engineers started to recognise the benefits of higher speed and better stability.
Image shown is the 'Tropfenauto' designed by Edmund Rumpler which literally translates as the 'teardrop car'
Automotive Aerodynamics Today
Today, although you may not be consciously aware of it, aerodynamic profiling is commonplace. Modern examples have exceptionally low aerodynamic drag as low as Cd 0.202 (2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS). 'Brick'-shaped cars no longer exist except in the garages of the most enthusiastic of collectors.
Sports equipment is also often streamlined to reduce power-sapping drag and gain improved performance.
Standard Trailer
The boxy shape of a standard shape trailer creates significant drag as air flows over it, leading to increased fuel consumption.
The flat front, rear and top surfaces contribute to this drag by creating turbulence and a vacuum at various points around the trailer. This turbulence disrupts the smooth flow of air, requiring the vehicle to expend more energy to overcome the resistance.
Teardrop™ Trailer
The streamlined shape of the Don-Bur Teardrop™ is designed to minimise drag and improve fuel efficiency.
The curved roof surface allows air to flow more smoothly, reducing resistance. This results in less turbulence and a more efficient flow of air, requiring less energy from the vehicle to overcome drag. Consequently, they often have better fuel economy compared to standard shape trailers.
See Teardrop case studies
Internal Load Capacity
There is no effect on load footprint. A standard 13.6m Teardrop™ carries 26 UK pallets.
A generous rear aperture height can be maintained by lowering the chassis at the rear. This provides the capability to lower the roof height at the back without compromising volume or rear aperture.
Internal volume varies depending on overall height optimised roof curvature but will be comparable with existing specifications.
Impact on CO2 Emissions
CO2 emissions are directly proportional to fuel consumed (2.63kgs CO2 / litre Diesel).
One combination travelling 60,000 miles per annum at 8.5 mpg will consume 32,080 litres of diesel and generate 84.37 tonnes of CO2. A 10% reduction in fuel use will cut CO2 emissions by 8.4 tonnes.
See what impact this has on your fleet.
Intellectual Property
The Teardrop™ trailer has the following protection which Don-Bur actively enforces:
- Granted Patents: GB2443035 and GB2474379.
- Community Registered Designs: 000867593-0001, 000709423-0002 and 000709423-0001.
360 Viewer
Take a virtual walk around an example Teardrop trailer design in our 360 panoramic viewer.
Scene menu buttons on the left of the viewer window allow you to navigate around the trailer to look at specific features.
For those that operate them, Teardrop™ trailers and rigid bodywork proudly stand out amongst the crowd; representing companies that demand better efficiency and care about their impact on the environment…
…companies that are arguably now more attractive to those they supply.
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Tags: teardrop, aerodynamic, fuel
Published: Wed 24 Jan 2024 (Edited: Wed 16 Oct 2024)
