Possibilities for Reducing the Energy Consumption of Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Data collected by Eurostat indicate that road transport of large loads is dominated by tractor units with semi-trailers. Furthermore, road transport accounts for a significant and growing participation in greenhouse gas emissions. In Poland, there were 567,800 tractor units in 2023. Their high intensity of use and energy consumption have made them the focus of numerous studies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Analysing energy consumption and identifying reduction strategies leads to lower operating costs for transport companies, yielding both social and economic benefits. The aim of the research was to conduct a detailed analysis of the trip profiles (velocity, routes) of actual transport tasks and to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption in regional heavy-duty transport. Based on the research and calculations performed, a practical method for reducing energy consumption and exhaust emissions was established. The proposed approach allows for a reduction in energy consumption by up to 13.75%, fuel consumption by up to 12.16%, and exhaust emissions by up to 12.11–12.16% (depending on the component) in a short period of time and without additional investment.