Fuel trials put Iveco Ecostralis on top for John Bywater Transport 04 January 2013

Transport operator and Pall-Ex member John Bywater Transport is achieving welcome fuel savings and now expects more, following in-house comparative fuel trials involving tractor units from five truck manufacturers.

The Kent-based haulier began the trials after an influx of new vehicles, which began in 2011 – part of a major fleet refurbishment. Among the new 61- and 12-registration vehicles were tractor units from DAF, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

Topping the fuel efficiency charts in the transport office were two Iveco Ecostralis tractors, which have jointly averaged 9.45mpg over 71,000 miles since entering service in March 2012.

Managing director John Bywater says the fuel returns from the Iveco tractor units compare favourably against his 40-strong fleet's average of 8.25mpg, with the two vehicles on course to save an estimated 4,355 litres of diesel each year.

"The Ecostralis trucks have proven to be very economical at the pumps and are returning the best fuel consumption figures we've seen," says Bywater.

"You always get a slight difference between comparative vehicles from different manufacturers, but, in the case of the Iveco vehicles, they are a league apart – and have been consistently since entering service," he continues.

"On the back of this performance, I've ordered an additional Ecostralis, which will join the fleet this month," he adds.

Key to the fuel savings, according to Iveco, is a re-mapped version of the FPT Industrial Cursor 10 engine – fitted as standard in the Ecostralis – which helps to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining performance.

The EEV-rated 10.3-litre engine is capable of producing 460bhp and a maximum torque of 2,100Nm between 1,050 and 1,550rpm.

Other fuel-saving features include an Ecoswitch device that uses vehicle weight information from the ECAS/EBS systems to limit engine torque, according to the truck's gross vehicle weight – so minimising fuel consumptoin during acceleration without affecting speed.

Ecostralis also uses the EuroTronic transmission with a new ECOfleet mode, which automatically adjusts to the vehicle loading, again to tune fuel economy. And the vehicle uses Michelin's X Energy SaverGreen low rolling resistance tyres, fitted as original equipment, plus a higher gearing and 85 km/h speed limiter.

Author
Brian Tinham

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