MVT Solutions, a provider of fuel economy testing and design and development services for the trucking industry, recently announced that the Ex-Guard XG-125G3 and the Ex-Guard XG-150G3 grille guards had only a minimal impact on fuel economy, of only -0.31 gal/1000 miles (-0.32%) and -0.40 gal/1000 miles (-0.41%).
“Ex-Guard has proven again that our guards are undeniably a net positive for fleets when considering how to reduce front end damage with a smaller fuel economy footprint,” said Jeremy Drever, director of engineering at Ex-Guard. “The improvements in fuel efficiency compared to previous models of our largest and best protecting Ex-Guard model, the XG-150, really underline how serious we are in making Ex-Guard a staple for every fleet and every truck. Combining the 80% decrease in towable accidents many of our customers have seen, along with this lower impact on fuel economy, the financial benefits are easily recognized, and the overall environmental impact can be better than not running guards at all.”
See also: Ex-Guard releases next generation of grille guards
The MVTS tests were conducted on a 2024 Freightliner Cascadia powered by a DD 15 engine and a DT12-1750-DHE Efficiency On-Highway 12-speed transmission, with a 53-ft. refrigerated trailer.
The gross vehicle weight was 46,000 lbs. Testing was conducted at 65 MPH steady-state speed on a private track in Texas.
“These two grille guards had very little impact on fuel economy,” said Daryl Bear, lead engineer and chief operating officer of MVT Solutions. "Using the XG-125G3 test results of -0.31 gal/1000 miles will result in an additional fuel expense of only about $164 a year, while the XG-150G3 with test results of -0.40 gal/1000 miles will result in an additional fuel expense of only about $211 a year. Fleets need to evaluate this cost against the cost of repairing a vehicle with front end damage.”
You can find the full report here.
