Front of mind, this week in Diesel News are Fuel Saving, New Volvo , Autonomous Truck and an Underground Warehouse.
The 2017 Volvo Drivers’ Fuel Challenge, supported by sponsors Caltex and Michelin, brings together the six most fuel-efficient Volvo drivers in the country, measured on their daily work performance. Using Volvo’s Dynafleet system, the semi-finalists for the 2017 Volvo Drivers’ Fuel Challenge have been identified as the most fuel efficient Volvo driver in their States.
“This is a whole new way to determine who are the most fuel-efficient drivers in Australia by using the technology in our trucks,” said Mitch Peden, Vice President of Volvo Trucks Australia. “By comparing the Dynafleet data from a wide range of our customers, we’ve identified the six drivers who consistently demonstrate fuel-efficient driving skills, day in and day out, while driving fully-laden trucks on genuine commercial journeys.”
The six semi-finalists who will each represent their State are:
- New South Wales: Andrew Woodleigh, Borg Manufacturing
- Victoria: Cameron Simpson, Simpson’s Fuel
- South Australia: David Kleinig, L H Perrys
- Tasmania: Chris Scolyer, De Bruyns Transport
- Western Australia: Phil Vallance, Desert Sands Cartage
- Queensland: Andrew Print, TruckHaul
The semi-final and final of the annual Volvo Driver’s Fuel Challenge will be held on July 20-21 in Brisbane. The winner will go on to represent Australia in the final in Gothenburg, Sweden in September.
New Volvo VNL
Volvo Trucks North America has revealed the new Volvo VNL series, available in several configurations, including an all-new, 70-inch sleeper and a series of new features. The new truck includes swept back headlights, which include daytime running lights and there’s a new Volvo grille and hood. Redesigned and repositioned engine air intakes allow for less turbulent intake air delivery. Airflow up and around the cab has also been optimised with new chassis and roof fairings.
The Volvo VNL features an all-new dashboard which puts often-used controls within the driver’s reach. Centred in the gauge cluster is a configurable, five-inch colour driver information display that provides trip and diagnostic data. The driver information display is customisable, ensuring that critical information is always available to the driver at a quick glance.
New Autonomous System
Launched by Swedish company, Einride, the ‘T-pod’ is an electric, self-driving vehicle that can be remotely controlled by drivers, set for prototype testing in 2017 followed by international distribution. Eimride also says it is developing a remote driving system, charging stations and an infrastructure that will make the system the most pioneering of its kind.
The company claims T-pods will start running between the cities of Gothenburg and Helsingborg, Sweden and the first active system will cover a capacity of 2,000,000 pallets per year., comments:
“Einride is transforming the existing transport chain from the ground up,” Filip Lilja, COO at Einride. “The big companies behind long haul trucks keep building bigger trucks to increase efficiency, which ultimately means even more emissions. We are changing that by creating a secure solution that is, not only cost effective, but dramatically minimises the negative environmental impact of the transportation industry.”
Going Underground
Warehouse developers in the UK are proposing underground warehouses as a new way to fit logistics facilities into the crowded area around Heathrow Airport. A 175,000 m2 underground warehouse has been laid out before planners and reports suggest it is set to get the go-ahead.
With the nine metre high warehouse underground, it will be topped by a new public park at ground level on a site less than 1.5 km from Heathrow Airport.