Euro 6 light built air springs
Cutting costs with lightweight solutions - Aftermarket air springs for EURO 6 vehicles
Under its premium ContiTech brand, Continental is now offering weight-optimized replacement air springs for EURO 6 vehicles, giving fleet operators a promising way to score efficiency gains. Vehicles compliant with the EURO 6 emissions standard are not only good for the environment and climate protection, but also for helping fleet operators to improve their bottom line. In the quest to compensate for the added weight of the necessary emission control systems, manufacturers are seeking out lightweight solutions for bodies, chassis and various components such as air springs, thus also lowering fuel consumption. However, the EURO 6 standard was introduced seven years ago. So what happens when components need to be replaced on vehicles that have been in service since then? If the replacements used end up being heavier than the originally installed parts, emissions and fuel consumption will also rise, thus negatively impacting efficiency. To prevent this, Continental and its premium ContiTech brand are offering a comprehensive range of lightweight axle air springs for the aftermarket.
Clever weight-saving design: In place of the usual metal parts such as steel pistons, these air springs feature lighter yet equally durable parts made of plastic, the fitting and manner of connection of which have also been optimized. Thanks to injection molding and a high-performance joining process, the pistons’ full internal volume can be utilized. The savings in weight compared with conventional air springs can amount to several hundred grams each, and – depending on the particular type and number of springs involved – for an entire vehicle this can easily add up to an overall savings of several kilos. This translates into lower fuel consumption for every single kilometer driven.
Cutting costs: Over the entire service lives of vehicles, fuel by far accounts for the largest share of overall operational cost, so reducing weight is a worthwhile priority for fleet operators. Bastian Dobrick, Sales Manager Europe in charge of Continental’s aftermarket air spring business, explains: “Our calculations based on average consumption and mileage show that fuel costs of more than €50,000 are incurred every year. In view of declining cargo yields, any form of weight savings is therefore worth hard cash for operators.” Another benefit of opting for replacement parts with lightweight components is greater vehicle range and higher payload capacity, all thanks to reducing the dead weight of the vehicle as a whole. This aspect is becoming increasingly important, especially for electrified powertrains with heavy battery cells whose weight needs to be compensated so as to maximize vehicle range. In short, by retrofitting their vehicles with Continental’s new lightweight air springs, fleet operators and freight forwarders can continue to derive maximum benefit from their EURO 6-compliant vehicles in terms of significantly lower emissions, lower fuel costs and high payloads.
Finding the right replacements with ease: At press time, Continental’s air spring portfolio features over 80 different types suitable for the EURO 6 models of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers. All premium ContiTech air springs available for aftermarket use are listed at www.luftfederkatalog.de, complete with technical data and drawings. This makes it easy for users, developers and sales partners to find the right type of air spring for every application. Universal searches can be made by application type, article designation, original part number as well as reference number. For further information, visit www.airspringreplacement.com.
