EC tests for Sainsbury's City Diesel
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• Sainsbury's evaluation of "City Diesel" —its name for Greenergy low-sulphur fuel—has moved on to include the EC 13-mode emissions test cycle. This is being carried out on a Leyland Daf 85-Series tractive unit, using a rolling road at the Leyland Technical Centre.
The vehicle will be tested using both City diesel and normal derv, with extra tests at idle and 1,200rpm while out of gear to give a direct comparison with Sainsbury's field testing. The field tests compare two Fleets—Charlton in east London (running on City diesel) and Basingstoke, which is on derv—and have shown promising results, says Mark Granger, technical adviser to Sainsbury's distribution division.
In-service tests have shown a "dramatic reduction in particulates, carbon monoxide and NOx," says Granger. "While hydrocarbons are reduced, the amount is not consistent and varies from vehicle to vehicle". Fuel consumption monitoring has not shown any significant difference and driver acceptance has also been good due to the lack of the traditional diesel smell.
When all the tests are analysed, Sainsbury's says the results will be shared with contractors which include Exel Logistics and Christian Salvesen.
Acceptance by the motoring public has led the supermarket giant to expand distribution of City diesel from 15 sites within the M25 to 77 sites nationwide.