Analysis of Fuel Economy Due to Rolling Resistance on Class 8 Tractor-Trailer Vehicles Using a Modeling Approach

This paper investigates the influence of rolling resistance on fuel consumption in Class 8 heavy-duty vehicles, with a focus on a modeling approach through variations in the rolling resistance coefficient (Crr) across different driving scenarios. Leveraging TruckSim’s multibody modeling approach for vehicle dynamics and MATLAB/Simulink co-simulation capability, the study provides insights into how tire rolling resistance affects energy efficiency under varying conditions while enabling controlled, repeatable comparisons across various scenarios. Results show that across the evaluated scenarios, increases in Crr impact the vehicle’s speed, fuel consumption, engine torque, and crankshaft spin. Specifically, increasing Crr from 0.004 to 0.013 was found to lead up to 68% higher fuel consumption in high demand scenarios. These findings aim to guide efforts to optimize tire design and vehicle performance that help achieve improved fuel efficiency.