Scania’s Ecolution solution launches in the UK13 August 2012
Ecolution – the Scania service aimed at enabling operators to improve transport economy and operational efficiency for their fleets – is now available in the UK.
It is based on a programme of vehicle, driver and maintenance optimisation, which Scania says has been proven to deliver "considerable operational savings".
"Since it was announced at the IAA Hannover Show in 2010, Ecolution by Scania has been undergoing extensive trials with operators and within Scania's own transport operation, Transport Laboratory, which sees trucks running regularly between our production plants in Sweden and the Netherlands," reveals Martin Hay, UK truck sales director for Scania.
"In trials with a Swedish operator running at 56 tonnes, fuel consumption was reduced from 48 to 35 litres/100km," he adds.
"A second operator, running at lower weights in Switzerland, achieved savings of approximately 10%, while our own transport laboratory reduced its fuel usage by more than 25% within six months."
The Ecolution by Scania programme covers four areas: vehicle specification, driver training, driver follow-up and maintenance. None of it is exceptional, but Scania contends that the focused programme is what makes the difference.
Optimising vehicle specification is achieved by Scania working with the operators to ensure the vehicle and its options are configured for the transport task in hand.
In terms of driver training, Scania believes that achieving maximum fuel efficiency is largely dependent upon the driver's performance, so its development programme – delivered by Scania's in-house team of trainers – focuses on drivers' skills with a range of advanced fuel usage- and efficiency-improving techniques.
Then driver follow-up does what it says on the tin: once trained, a driver's performance is likely to fall back from its peak unless he or she receives regular follow-up and coaching. So Ecolution covers everything from its in-cab Scania Driver Support system to regular performance reviews, where fuel usage data and driving style information captured by the Scania OnBoard telematics system is discussed with drivers.
As for maintenance, Scania claims that it's all about a more holistic maintenance regime to ensure that every part of the vehicle is operating to its maximum potential.
Author
John Challen
Related Companies
Scania (Great Britain) Ltd
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