Autonomous Truck Platoon Fuel Savings Calculator

Estimate the aggregate fuel savings achieved when autonomous trucks draft in a tightly spaced platoon over a defined route.

Average fuel consumption for a single truck running solo over highway conditions.
Route length covered while platooning.
Total vehicles linked in the platoon including the lead truck.
Expected fuel savings for each follower truck from reduced aerodynamic drag.
Minor savings sometimes realised by the lead vehicle thanks to smoother flow. Defaults to 0%.
Average fuel price to convert the savings into operating dollars. Defaults to $0.00.

Operational planning aid. Validate with instrumented fuel measurements before locking savings into business cases.

Examples

  • 32.5 L/100 km baseline, 450 km convoy, 4 trucks, followers save 12%, lead saves 2%, diesel $1.12/L ⇒ 55.58 L saved worth $62.24.
  • 28.0 L/100 km baseline, 600 km convoy, 3 trucks, followers save 8%, lead blank, diesel blank ⇒ 26.88 L saved with no price conversion.

FAQ

How do I set realistic follower savings percentages?

Derive the percentage from wind-tunnel trials or instrumented road pilots on the specific tractor-trailer geometry. OEM platooning pilots typically report 8–12% savings for followers.

Does terrain significantly alter the result?

The calculator assumes average fuel consumption already reflects grade and payload. For mountainous corridors, model uphill and downhill segments separately to capture additional braking or power penalties.

Can I include human-driven trucks in the platoon?

Yes, but you must adjust the follower savings to account for human reaction times and longer gaps. Autonomous lead-follow systems enable the highest drag reduction because the gaps stay consistently short.

Additional Information

  • Result unit: litres of diesel saved and equivalent operating cost.
  • Savings assume constant spacing and cooperative adaptive cruise control maintaining the platoon gap.
  • Use fuel blending factors if trucks employ alternative fuels with different energy densities.

Related calculators