Comment by Robert Barry
Platooning and fully autonomous heavy vehicles might seem futuristic but the technology is being developed as part of Intelligent Transport Systems that will see current truck telematic systems taken to a whole new level.
Recently the Ministry of Transport announced its Intelligent Transport Systems Action Plan which identifies what is needed in New Zealand for advancing the introduction of these and other intelligent transport systems technologies.
“Intelligent transport systems could transform all forms of transport in coming decades,” says secretary for transport Martin Matthews.
“Many technologies such as driverless cars, and the capacity for vehicles to platoon, are already being trialled in other countries. These sorts of technologies have the potential to fundamentally change how our transport systems work – while making them safer, more effective and more efficient.
“The action plan explains the government’s strategic context and leadership role. It takes a high-level, multi-agency approach to the introduction of new intelligent transport systems. These systems are becoming integral to transport in New Zealand and around the world.
The Ministry of Transport has developed the plan in collaboration with other government departments and agencies, following public consultation late last year.
However, the Motor Industry Association says the action plan formulated by the Ministry of Transport is underwhelming.
“There are a couple of actions that relate to the heavy vehicle fleet which are of interest,” says MIA chief executive David Crawford.
“While the Government is establishing a ‘leadership forum’ to develop a strategic vision for the use of ITS policies, there is little in the document about embracing vehicle-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.
“There are however a couple of actions to improve data and revenue collection from road users, it seems Government is more interested in how to take money off road users – than addressing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure needs.”
Regardless of the politics, – the use of telematics, and the combination of these and other autonomous functions into an intelligent transport system to save fuel and reduce accidents and downtime will be hugely beneficial to the transport industry.
Recently Automotive World editor Martin Kahl commented in an online editorial that in the future heavy commercial vehicles will be more connected, from telematics, to platooning and beyond.
Kahl made the comment online that fuel represents the highest single cost of any truck fleet operation, followed closely by driver remuneration.
Controlling the cost of fuel and the cost of wages ought to be the backbone of any fleet strategy says Kahl, and he also comments that truck fleet telematics enables fleet managers to do so accurately, producing data that can pinpoint savings.
The fact that struck me was the revelation by Kahl in his editorial that truck fleet telematics is still in its infancy in overseas markets, both in terms of market penetration (4% in Brazil, 12.5% in the US and Canada) and in the analysis and application of the data.
Forecasters expect the telematics market to grow by the end of the decade into double digits of billions of dollars.
In the online editorial Kahl says that while drivers may not like it, their actions have a direct impact on fuel consumption.
“Monitor what they do and teach them to do it differently, so goes the mantra, and you can significantly reduce your fuel costs,” says Kahl.
But then Kahl asks the question – what if drivers actions could be prevented from impacting fuel costs in the first place? Not only through careful management and training, but by taking them out of the equation, if only partially?
According to Kahl, a recent study by Peloton Technology that a truck platoon – an electronically-controlled convoy of vehicles driving close to each other in a specific – distance, can deliver a cumulative fuel reduction in fuel consumption of 7%.
Kahl states in his editorial that several people he interviewed for an article called Truck fleet telematics – a world of opportunity, stated that telematics could deliver fuel consumption savings of up to 10%.
One theme mentioned in Kahls research was the likelihood that telematics will be increasingly tied in to advanced driver assistance, and later, semi-autonomous and even fully autonomous drive technology.
In Kahl’s opinion, combining advanced telematics with autonomous drive technology could benefit the fleet operators with some very attractive savings.
Truck manufacturers are already fitting embedded telematics devices in their new vehicles, and they are also developing the technology for platooning and various levels of automated driving.
Self-driving cars such as those trialled by Google in California and Volvo Car Corporation in Gothenburg have already sparked debate about public acceptance and regulatory compliance says Kahl.
Self-driving trucks are already employed for some military functions says Kahl, and mining operations in Australia, and now we are on the verge of introducing another concept into that debate – the semi or fully autonomous truck, driving on public roads.
Volvo Trucks app saves fuel
Thanks to an app launched by Volvo Trucks, drivers can get an immediate incentive to drive more economically and thereby significantly reduce a company’s costs.
The app for truck drivers is part of Volvo Trucks’ Dynafleet fleet management system, which is only available in Europe, Brazil and Australia, to transport companies with a Dynafleet subscription.
The app displays information to the driver that was previously only available to the transport company. Drivers can see for themselves how efficiently they drive, compare their performance with that of their colleagues and further improve their driving techniques.
One of the app’s main functions – ‘Fuel Efficiency Score’ – rates the driver’s performance in four areas that in various ways impact the truck’s fuel consumption: anticipation and braking, engine and gearbox utilisation, speed adaption and standstill. The results are then collated to produce an overall score.
The idea is to provide an incentive for a well-planned and safe driving style. One that gives low fuel consumption and low emissions and subjects the vehicle to less wear, according to Volvo Trucks.
The company says that fuel represents between 21 and 39% of total transport company costs and driving behaviour really makes a difference. By adopting an economical style, drivers can typically reduce a transport company’s fuel costs by up to 7%.
