Fuel-efficiency wins Iveco Ecostralis order with CFT Services 19 April 2012

Lancashire-based CFT Services has taken delivery of eight new ultra fuel-efficient Iveco Ecostralis 6x2 mid-lift tractor units – and has ordered six more for September 2012.

They join a further six Stralis Active Time tractors, which went into service during December 2011 and January this year.

Chris Flynn, managing director of CFT Services, explains that the company trialled an Ecostralis demonstrator prior to placing the order.

During a fortnight under the spotlight it recorded a 0.5mpg fuel saving operating from its Heywood and Wednesbury sites, measured against the fleet average, he says.

"With diesel prices hitting record levels, a 0.5mpg saving on fuel can make a big difference to our overall vehicle operating costs," comments Flynn.

"Together with a competitive finance package from Iveco Capital, Ecostralis made sound business sense," he adds.

The Ecostralis stands out from regular Stralis Active Space Super3 heavy trucks, thanks to a re-mapped version of the FPT Cursor 10 engine, which Iveco explains helps to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining performance.

The EEV-rated 10.3 litre engine is still capable of producing up to 460bhp and a maximum torque of 2,100Nm between 1,050 and 1,550 rev/min.

The greener vehicle also benefits from an array of features, including a Blue&Me Fleet telematics system and an Ecoswitch that uses vehicle weight information from the ECAS/EBS systems to limit engine torque – ensuring overall performance in line with that of a fully laden vehicle.

Iveco explains that this allows fuel consumption to be minimised during acceleration, without affecting overall speed capability.

Ecostralis trucks also feature a EuroTronic transmission with an ECOfleet mode that automatically adjusts to the loading of the unit to fine-tune fuel economy.

Flynn says the performance of the local dealer was also good. "Guest Truck & Van in West Bromwich has gone out of its way to look after us. A good truck is nothing without excellent dealer back-up; to-date they have really impressed," he asserts.

The new Ecostralis' join a 70-strong fleet of commercial vehicles and each has been fitted with a GPS vehicle tracking system for added efficiency and security. They will be used for long-haul national distribution, primarily to supermarket regional distribution centres.

Each vehicle will be manned by a single driver and is expected to clock-up more than 100,000 miles per year – with servicing undertaken via the Iveco dealer network.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Iveco

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