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Making every litre count

3rd February 2011
Page 34
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Page 34, 3rd February 2011 — Making every litre count
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

With truck operators looking to squeeze every last drop out of a litre of diesel, CM looks at two new eco-packages’ from Iveco and MAN

Words: Brian Weatherley

Nothing focuses the mind on fuel economy quite like a diesel price hike. And with fuel being the biggest single cost in running a long-haul tractor (30%), outstripping drivers’ wages (26%) and other overheads, it’s no coincidence that European truck makers are increasingly offering fuel-focused derivatives of their standard products.

Iveco’s Ecostralis (CM 20 January) is a worthy example of that trend and, according to the Italian manufacturer, is evidence of a “commitment in ensuring maximum productivity and minimising operating costs” . Put simply, it’s a Stralis, factory-specced for maximum economy. And it has the potential to deliver it too.

In comparative trials certiied by the German testing organisation TÜV SÜD, Iveco ran head-to-head trials between a benchmarked ‘regular’ Stralis tractor with the largest ‘Active Space’ cab and 450hp Cursor 10 engine against an Ecostralis, with the latest ‘eco-tuned’, and up-rated, 460hp version of 10.3-litre six-pot. Running at 40 tonnes on the motorway, the Ecostralis artic recorded a 7.32% reduction in consumption, with a 4.77% saving at a constant 50mph. In similar tests, a 460hp Ecostralis with the narrower ‘Active Time’ leet cab delivered an even greater 9.79% fuel saving at 50mph against the benchmark tractor.

On paper, Ecostralis’ miserly drivetrain is the classic ‘sum of the parts being greater than the whole’ . Standard on all right-hand-drive Ecostralis 4x2 and 6x2 chassis, the 460 diesel has revised engine-mapping and ECU software to ensure “major fuel savings but without compromising performance or commercial speed” . Standard lube-ill is a low-viscosity 5W30 fully synthetic oil, said to reduce consumption by up to 2.5%. Iveco claims its 150,000km drain interval “is the longest in its class” .

ECO-switch fuel-saver

The Ecostralis’s engine management system features a fuel-saving function called ECO-switch. Using data generated by the truck’s ECAS and ABS, it automatically adjusts the Cursor 10’s power and torque, (and thus, ultimately, acceleration characteristics) according to the vehicle’s laden weight – but without compromising overall performance. ECO-Switch is activated by the leet manager or workshop via a unique authorisation key used in conjunction with a control unit located on the passenger side of the dashboard; it can’t be reached by a driver on the move. Working with Iveco’s 12-speed EuroTronic auto box, ECO-switch ensures optimised gear-changing and fuel economy. The two-pedal (ZF AS-Tronic) transmission also comes with EcoFleet control software as standard, allowing a driver to make single manual changes (for example when hill-climbing) but thereafter always reverting back to full automatic.

All Ecostralis tractors come with Michelin X Energy Saver Green XF/XD low-rolling-resistance tyres (claimed to offer a 10% improvement compared with regular tyres). With a standard 2.64:1 back axle ratio, the 315/70 R22 XD tyres ensure the Cursor 10 is ticking over nicely in the green economy band at 1,209rpm at 85km/h. Further fuel-saving measures include a full air kit with new, adjustable, top spoiler and side delectors for both Active Space and Active Time cabs (side chassis fairings are also supplied on 4x2 tractors) and what must be the biggest diesel-saving no-brainer – a speed limiter set at 85km/h (53mph). Other standard kit includes hill hold, electronic stability programme (ESP) and, in conjunction with Qualcomm, Blue&Me leet telematics. Optional extras include tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and various cab interior trim enhancements.

Price premium

The fuel-saving measures on Ecostralis attract a typical price premium of around £3,000 on top of a regular Stralis. However, the Italian truck maker insists operators should not just view it in terms of a practical ‘hardware’ solution, but in the broader context of improving leet eficiency, especially when used in conjunction with telematics and vehicle comms and, in particular, driver training (see box left). ■

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Organisations: TÜV SÜD

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