Mercedes-Benz future-gazing helps Chiltern’s fuel economy 15 April 2013

A cruise control that 'sees' the road ahead is being credited with contributing to improving mpg returns recorded by Chiltern Cold Storage's new Mercedes-Benz fleet flagship.

Mercedes-Benz's Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) employs 3D GPS mapping to read three kilometres of topography ahead, in order to control speed, braking and the transmission selection to maximise fuel efficiency.

Optionally available at a cost of £1,349 on all New Actros trucks, the system comes into its own when the vehicle is travelling up or down hills.

Chiltern Cold Storage's New Actros 2545 BigSpace took to the road on 1 March 2013 and covered some 10,000 fully-freighted miles over the next six weeks.

The tractor unit spends most of its time on domestic duties at 44 tonnes gcw, but also undertakes regular Continental assignments at 40 tonnes gcw. Yet, pulling a 13.6m Gray & Adams reefer, the New Actros is already returning 10.8mpg average, as measured by the operator's Proteo telematics system.

"That's a really good figure," comments Chiltern Cold Storage managing director Paul Jackson. "New Actros has taken truck technology to another dimension, and is as close as you'll get to a future-proof vehicle."

Jackson has just ordered another four New Actros 2545s and all will have Predictive Powertrain Control.

Since May 2012, Chiltern has also acquired two more New Actros BigSpace tractors and seven tractors from the previous Actros range. These have joined a fleet of 40 trucks – split evenly between tractor units and 18- and 26-tonne rigids.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Gray & Adams Ltd
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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