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Volvo Trucks is among several commercial truck manufacturers participating in the European Truck Platooning Challenge, sending three trucks — communicating wirelessly and driving close behind each other — through Europe to Rotterdam. The aim is to move the transportation industry another step closer to the concept of platooning in Europe.
When trucks can drive closely behind one another, fuel economy is improved as a result of the reduction in drag. Drag accounts for up to 25 percent of a truck’s total fuel consumption, and the closer the trucks drive to each other, the greater the fuel-saving potential. Using wireless technology, the trucks can drive with only about a one-second gap between the vehicles in a platoon. By communicating with each other, the trucks automatically match each other’s speed and braking.
“Essentially, this means that the reaction time for breaking is reduced to zero, which in turn improves safety and minimizes the ‘accordion effect’ in connection with traffic congestion,” says Anders Kellström, project manager for Volvo’s participation in the EU Truck Platooning Challenge.
With legislation in the various countries making platooning on Europe’s roads impossible, the Netherlands initiated the European Truck Platooning Challenge in order to discuss the changes required in European transportation legislation to facilitate platooning.
All truck manufacturers in Europe have been invited to drive truck convoys from their respective countries to a final event in Rotterdam next month.
The Volvo Group is driving three trucks in a platoon from Gothenburg to Rotterdam in the Netherlands via Denmark, Germany and Belgium. Volvo, in cooperation with the Swedish Transport Administration and the City of Gothenburg, held a seminar in Gothenburg to address the potential to enhance the efficiency of transportation through platooning and autonomous driving. Volvo Trucks in Brussels will arrange a similar seminar on April 5.
“We believe that platooning offers major advantages — mainly for our customers, but also for society in the form of fuel savings, reduced emissions and enhanced transportation efficiency,” said Kellström. “Together with the rest of society, the transportation industry needs to tackle such challenges as the harmonization of legislation, and in so doing promote the introduction of platooning in Europe.”
By: Trucking News Staff
http://www.truckingnewsonline.com/news/trio-of-platooning-volvo-trucks-on-a-european-road-trip/9217/
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