Washington, DC - BMI Corporation, a company in South Carolina,
in partnership with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge
National Laboratory (ORNL) has successfully developed a
technology that will make semi trucks more fuel efficient with
the potential to save millions of gallons of fuel. Utilizing the
nation's most powerful computer, BMI Corp designed a SmartTruck
UnderTray System, a set of integrated aerodynamic fairings that
improve the aerodynamics of 18-wheeler (Class 8) long-haul
trucks. If all 1.3 million Class 8 trucks in the U.S. were
configured with these components, companies could achieve annual
savings of 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel - approximately
equal to $5 billion in costs - and reductions of CO2 by 16.4
million tons. "The Department of Energy's supercomputers provide
an enormous competitive advantage for the United States," said
Secretary Steven Chu. "This is a great example of how
investments in innovation can help lead the way to new jobs, new
ways of cutting our carbon emissions, a