Mercedes-Benz Euro 5 Sprinter wins fuel trials with HomeServe10 June 2010

HomeServe, which provides mobile emergency plumbing services, is buying a fleet of Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, after a demonstrator beat its competitor in fuel trials.

Thanks partly to its ECO-Start technology, which automatically cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary, the Sprinter apparently turned in a 1.5mpg better performance than its nearest rival, at 32.41mpg, according to fleet manager Adam Rickard.

As a result, HomeServe has placed an order with North East dealer Bell Truck and Van for 60 Medium-length, high-roofed Sprinter 313CDIs, all with the ECO-Start system.

Interestingly, because the vehicles' Euro 5 engines are more fuel efficient than the Euro 4 demonstrator used in the trials, Rickard reckons HomeServe is looking forward to even bigger savings, as well as carbon emissions reductions.

"Reducing our carbon footprint was the main criterion when we embarked on this process, but we wanted to do so without compromising our standards on performance or load space. This meant we had to find a vehicle that combined the most efficient engine with a practical and easy-to-access load area, while also being strong and reliable," comments Rickard.

"We narrowed down the choice to a couple of contenders, then ran them over a two-day trial to measure their fuel economy – which is where the Sprinter played its winning card, by coming out as the leader," he adds.

He also explains that HomeServe's new Sprinters are being fitted with optional speed limiters and tracking devices to record mileage: used in tandem with fuel usage data, these will allow Rickard to monitor mpg over their projected four-year working life.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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