IFT proves fuel savings
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• Iveco Ford has proved that fitting an aerodynamic kit to a 38-tonne tractive unit can cut fuel costs by as much as 10.5% by saving 4,600 litres of fuel a year (worth approximately
1,586 at today's prices) over the course of 160,900knn (100,000 miles).
IFT commissioned the Motor Industry Research Association at Nuneaton, Vv'arks, to test a pair of 190.36 tractors; one with an air deflection kit with under-bumper air dam and a cab-roof windfoil.
Each truck was run with and without the fuel-economy kit, and every possible influencing factor was taken into account. Fuel-line metering was used to measure dery used.
More than 80% of Iveco Ford's tractive unit customers now specify air management kits. At 97km/h, says Iveco Ford, more than half of the engine power is used up in overcoming wind resistance. The deflector kit on the 190.36 gave a saving in fuel of 10.5% at 97km/h (60mph); 8.4% at 80km/b (50mph); 5.8% at 64km/h (40mph), and 2.7% at 48krnih (30mph).
Iveco Ford has also been researching the cost of fitting increasingly sophisticated emission control devices to trucks, and the company is convinced that cleaner, lean-burn diesel engines are the only sensible solution. Particulate traps are expensive, heavy, difficult to install and they entail regeneration risks when burning off the soot the trap collects, it says.