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At a Fuel Economy Conference held by the Society of
Page 47
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Operations Engineers (SOE) recently, David Batty former engineering fleet controller at Somerfield Stores and now engineering director of BATNEEC Development Services, shared some of the interventions that helped to save fuel across the Somerfield fleet.
Somerfield runs 646 tractors and sport £21m a year on fuel, covering 56 million miles a year — 87,000 miles per tractor on average. Before purchasing vehicles Somerfield ran trials using gravimetric tanks. This is a small removable fuel tank with-self sealing fuel couplings where the fuel is accurately weighed, and specific gravity and temperature are taken before and after accurately measured distances are recorded. "The testing is arguably the most accurate way of measuring fuel consumption," says Batty.
The company studied the effect of reducing cab gap: at 1.5m fuel consumption was at 9mpg; at 1.35m lt became 9.3mpg, and at 1.13m it rose to 9.7mpg. Somerfield also looked at the following: • Low energy tyres — saved 8% on new rubber, and 3% on end-of-life rubber.
• Tyre pressures — it carried out proving ground testing to establish optimum tyre pressure settings commensurate with axle weights.
• Climate control — this had no effect on the fuel consumption of 12-litre capacity units.
• Road speed limiters — at optimum setting, this gave a 6% fuel saving.
• Fuel Saving Curve double-deck trailers yeldee at least 8% in savings.
The company also rigorously tested fuel consumption with different parameters when: • It produced a stepped table showing weight to fuel, which was used to accurately price and control costs on backhauls.
• It tested the positioning of weight on vehicles and handling characteristics.
• It checked telematio accuracy from on-board computers.
• It evaluated the effect of automated gearboxes.
(AR the above testing was carried out us,ng STAG methodology)