CANbus technology delivers ROI for all transmissions - 14/03/11
A well-driven manual vehicle today remains more fuel-efficient than an equivalent automatic. However, CANbus technology can help achieve fuel savings that deliver significant return on investment, regardless of transmission, says telematics specialists Navman Wireless.
In recent trials of the Navman Wireless’ CANbus engine management system, fuel savings of more than £100 per vehicle per month were reported. The system has been designed to deliver quick return on investment .
“With ever-narrowing margins, optimising driver performance is essential,” said Steve Blackburn, European Vice President, Navman Wireless. “CANbus technology allows fleet managers to continually identify areas for improvement and reward the professionalism of their drivers.”
“Hauliers will take comfort in the cost-cutting possibilities available, particularly in light of The Road Haulage Association (RHA) announcement that fuel price hikes in the last week alone have raised the annual running cost of a typical 44-tonne truck by £410.”
In the recent trials, a Data Collection Unit (DCU) was fitted to four DAF HGV vehicles belonging to a respected haulier; two manual and two automatic.
DCUs connect to a vehicle’s FMS interface to collect information about engine performance, including; over revving, excessive acceleration, harsh breaking and many other criteria, all of which prove invaluable in assessing and improving driver performance. The ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) has stated that accessing data via the FMS is the “only acceptable way to connect external devices to the vehicle electronics.” Navman Wireless’s system ensures full compliance with the ACEA’s ‘FMS Standard.’
Driving one of the DCU fitted manual vehicles, the company fleet manager personally set a conservative estimate of achievable fuel consumption at 21mpg. The average fuel consumption figures collected during the following trial month were respectable, but revealed considerable room for improvement: 16.7 mpg (manual) and 13.6 mpg (automatic).
Steve commented on the results: “The potential savings speak for themselves. In this instance, a good driver in a manual vehicle can go more than 50% further than an average driver in an automatic. There is still a significant 20% gap when just comparing the spread of manual performance.”
The customisable CANbus system makes it easier to manage the vast amount of engine data collected and allows operators to quickly identify important performance indicators and monitor fluctuations and rates of improvement.
Steve added: “Some managers choose automatic vehicles to sidestep potential manual driver inefficiencies altogether. The results show that all drivers can be helped to save a significant amount of fuel with the right data.”