Predictive cruise control proves its worth during comparison test
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PROOF THAT cutting-edge technology can quickly become cost effective is revealed in an in-depth review of predictive cruise control systems just published in our sister title Truck &Driver. The test compares the latest systems available from Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo and shows that operators regularly traversing hilly terrain can expect significant fuel
savings. Two of Europe's most experienced road test journalists, driving for maximum economy with full use of manual over-ride, pitted their skills against the predictive systems over a challenging route on the A81 in southern Germany.
At the end of the test, which saw both drivers take the wheel of each truck in turn, the humans had failed to beat the predictive cruise control systems on either economy or speed. The best fuel economy improvement came from the Mercedes Actros 1845, which gave a saving of 5.9% compared with the average of
both drivers' best efforts, with a consistent journey time improvement of 0.4%.
Translating this result into UK terms, based on the option price of £1,349 and 140,000km per year at 9mpg, it would mean a payback time of just 23 weeks for operations in arduous conditions.
In the UK, nearly 400 Actros with the system have already been sold to operators including Elddis, Abbey Logistics, Culina Logistics and Argos.
• You can read the full report in the January 2014 issue of Truck & Driver, on sale now.