3 Important Facts About Fuel-Efficient Parts

What Does it Mean to be Fuel-Efficient?

Traditionally, the goal of the trucking industry has been simple — deliver the freight safely and quickly. In the past, fuel costs were simply considered a means to achieve that end. But there are many aspects of the trucking industry that have changed over the last few decades, and chief among them is the emphasis on having fuel-efficient trucks.

But what does that mean? Googling the definition can lead you down a super technical rabbit hole that you may not get out of, but simply put, the fuel efficiency of your truck refers to the relationship between how much fuel you're using and how far you're traveling. While investing in companies and parts that focus on improved fuel economy can be more expensive in the short-term, it can also lead to some serious wins and savings for your business down the road.

Fuel Efficiency is More Gas in Your Tank

One of the best benefits of having fuel-efficient parts in your heavy-duty truck is the long-term fuel savings. In a culture that wants its deliveries 100% accurate and 100% fast, the constant fluctuation of fuel prices can make fleet owners and managers nervous. But being able to keep more gas in the tank per mile is great for the drivers, great for the customers, and great for your business.

Depending on the size and current miles per gallon (MPG) of your truck or fleet, upping your MPG can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars on an annual basis. And at a time when oil import prices and supply from the Middle East are unpredictable, setting yourself up for success now with fuel-efficient parts sets you up to be ready for whatever shifts happen in the fuel market.

Fuel Efficiency is Less Global Warming Emissions

While trucking is an essential industry in the U.S., it and passenger cars and trucks are also responsible for emitting about 1.7 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere per year. These greenhouses gases are in the form of carbon dioxide and play a major role in climate change. Each gallon of gasoline burned by your truck or fleet emits 20 pounds of greenhouse gases — roughly 6-9 tons each year.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency enforced fuel economy and pollution standards for automakers. If these standards are correctly implemented, it is projected that they could decrease our oil use by about 3 million barrels a day.

Even still, environmental agencies highly encourage fleets to not rely on these standards alone to do their part for the environment, and investing in fuel-efficient truck parts can help make sure your truck or fleet is doing its best to reduce its carbon footprint.

Fuel Efficiency Increases Sustainability

It's highly unlikely that we will ever get to a point in our country where we no longer need to import or depend on gas, oil, and other nonrenewable resources. But since these nonrenewable resources will run out someday and we have no idea when that day is, it's important to look at alternative solutions to ensure that future generations of truckers and fleet owners can thrive.

Automakers are busy developing electric and hybrid vehicles to help curb fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and behind the scenes, big names in the trucking industry such as BorgWarner are also hard at work designing and developing thermal solutions, such as their DuroSpeed fan clutches.

Investing in BorgWarner Fuel-Saving Fan Clutches

Improving fuel economy and developing cleaner solutions for the environment is a huge part of BorgWarner's ethos. The company has made great strides to drive down fuel consumption and even includes a fuel economy calculator on its website. BorgWarner has established an important partnership with Delco Remy to pioneer fuel-efficient alternators, but an equally important and lesser-known way that BorgWarner focuses on fuel economy is through its fan drives.

Necessary for keeping the engine at optimal running temperature, fan clutches can be an afterthought when considering increasing the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. But more studies are showing the benefits of mixing fuel-efficient parts and technologies, such as a BorgWarner DuroSpeed fan drive.

SHOP FAN CLUTCHES NOW

The BorgWarner DuroSpeed fan clutch can improve the fuel efficiency of your truck because it:

• Contains 11 fewer components than the competition
• Weighs 5-10 pounds less
• Engages and disengages less often, increasing horsepower while also minimizing fuel consumption

BorgWarner also creates viscous bi-metal and other fan clutches that are sustainability-focused and may be better options depending on your application.

Where to Buy Fuel-Efficient Fan Clutches

Whether you're ready to start your journey to improved fuel efficiency or still have a few questions, our online catalog offers a multitude of fuel-efficient BorgWarner DuroSpeed fan clutches as well as the Delco Remy alternators we mentioned earlier. We also carry other trusted names in the industry who are behind the scenes to make sure we're not only doing our part to protect the environment but also your hard-earned dollars.

Shop our online store today or contact us to find the BorgWarner fan clutch or other fuel-efficient parts for your truck or fleet.

Key Points: 3 Facts About Fuel Efficient Parts

• Fuel efficiency is a complex subject, but simply put, it means how much fuel you're using for how far you're traveling
• Fuel efficiency means using less fuel, which translates to more gas in your tank and reduced fuel costs
• Being fuel efficient also means emitting less greenhouse gases into the air, which contribute to global warming
• Although there are standards in place for automakers to protect the environment, the trucking industry is also encouraged to invest in fuel-efficient parts to reduce dependency on nonrenewable resources
• BorgWarner DuroSpeed fan clutches and Delco Remy alternators are two great examples of ways to improve your fuel economy

With distribution centers strategically placed all over the country and a highly-trained parts team in-house, we can help you get on your way to improved fuel economy.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy, "Why is Fuel Economy Important?" https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/why.shtml

Union of Concerned Scientists, "Why Fuel Efficiency?" https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/fuel-efficiency