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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	TE355
Title	In-fleet trials of fuel saving interventions for trucks
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Transport) 100%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 50%; Applied Research and Development 50%;
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics) 25%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies) 50%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Education) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 15%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance) 10%; Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 75%;
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given AEA Technology Environment
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	DfT
Start Date	01 January 2005
End Date	01 September 2005
Duration	9 months
Total Grant Value	£32,000
Industrial Sectors	Transport
Region	South East
Programme	DfT Freight logistics
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , AEA Technology Environment (100.000%)
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Objectives	There are a wide variety of fuel saving interventions available, which the manufacturers claim will improve vehicle performance and efficiency. A fuel saving intervention is a product or service, which is designed to reduce the fuel use of a vehicle. However there is very little guidance on effectively testing of these interventions in the context of a fuel management programme. Fleet managers are frequently bombarded by sales literature for products that offer fuel savings, which seem to b ego od to be true. They may be tempted to fit and forget a device that appears to be pay for itself in months. However installing such a device may be a waste of money if it does not work or has detrimental affects. Frequently, the fuel saving figures quoted by manufacturers are based on estimates for the vehicles run on tracks or test routes, or based on models tested in wind tunnels or other carefully controlled environments. Therefore vehicle operators are unlikely to realise the same le velof s avings on the road, and may operators discover drawbacks that would not be apparent over a short trial period. The products ability to improve performance in a cost-effective manner may vary depending on the operational characteristics of the organisation. For these reasons, the encouragement of in depth and longer-term in-fleet evaluations are essential because many of the interventions may only reveal their true effects under the rigours of normal operational conditions. In th e light ofthese potential concerns, there is a need for an impartial guide on how to carry out In fleet trials (IFT) to understand the effectiveness of any fuel saving intervention in a fleet. The guide needs to encourage operators to carefully consider the interventions to be used, the methodologies for carrying out the in-fleet testing, highlighting potential benefits and drawbacks and what these mean for the operator. This will be done in context of three main types of fuel saving inter vention devices 1) Tyres 2) Transmissions 3) Telematics Measuring and monitoring fuel-efficiency and other key performance indicators lie at the heart of the TEBP programme, which seeks to promote a systematic and sustained approach to improving efficiency. For example, it makes little sense to invest in aerodynamic kit if the organisation does not run the type of vehicles or trips that create significant drag, or the vehicles are poorly maintained and driven in a manner that increases fuel consumption.
Abstract	For managers investigating the use of fuel saving interventions or setting up their own in-fleet trials. This guide shows how to establish the potential performance of fuel saving devices in your fleet.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/01/08