Monitor cuts fuel costs
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• Improved road safety, better fuel economy and financial savings are among the benefits claimed for a new vehicle monitoring system from VDO Kienzle UK.
Driver time and attendance, vehicle activity, fuel usage and driving style can be monitored by the FM200, and the resulting improvements can save a fortune, says Dave Thomas, fleet systems commercial manager. "It's amazing how much fuel you can save," he adds. "Five Percent isn't unusual."
The system comprises a data recorder measuring 140x80x3Omm (normally fitted behind the dashboard); a data "key" system, which reads information and transfers it to and from the recorder; and VDO Kienzie's FM2000 Windows-based analysis software.
Options include an in-cab terminal which allows a driver to record operational data via keyboard or barcode reader.
A customer in Germany running 14 service vans is said to have cut his fuel and servicing costs by £20,000a year for an investment of £7,000.
Typical savings on annual tyre and maintenance bills will be about 10%, Thomas says. So will he guarantee such savings? "Guarantee is a difficult thing to do, but if you use the information correctly it's possible," he says.
The FM200 system costs £495, plus £499 for the software. The optional in-cab FM Terminal will add another 1295.
Fifty units are being supplied to Daf for its fleet of UK demonstrators, and several hire companies are evaluating the system.
• Contact: 0121 326 1234.