Mercedes promises 3% fuel saving with PPC
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By Brian Weatherley
MERCEDES-BENZ IS promising fuel savings of up to 3% with its latest Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC). When operating in conjunction with the truck’s cruise control system, the software uses 3D GPS mapping data to ‘see’ the road ahead and automatically change gear on its new Actros according to the approaching terrain.
The optional PPC system costs €1,700 (£1,367) for the mapping software, GPS antennae and control unit, and adds a new dimension to Mercedes’ 12-speed PowerShift auto, fitted as standard on the new Actros, and cruise control.
According to the German truck maker, PPC can pay for itself within a year in fuel savings – depending on operating routes. Working together with the mapping data (provided by TomTom navigation), PPC analyses the road ahead, accelerating early towards approaching gradients in order to delay costly down-shifts, backing off the throttle as the truck approaches the top of the hill, thereby allowing the vehicle’s kinetic energy to roll it over the summit without power, and shifting to Eco-Roll to save fuel where appropriate.
Drivers can set an upper and lower speed range for the system on either side of the normal top cruise control limit (typically 85km/h on a motorway). This allows the truck to lose some speed when cresting a hill for example, on the grounds that it knows it will quickly regain energy and momentum on the down-slope – as seen by the GPS mapping function.
Mercedes says PPC provides coverage of approximately 95% of all motorways and major routes in Europe, including the UK. As well as using data from the road profile ahead of the truck’s current GPS position, PPC also bases its automatic gear-shifting strategy on the vehicle’s gross weight, road speed and individual engine torque and power output.
It goes on sale in August.