The truck industry is searching high and low for solutions to cut fuel consumption in order to increase fuel efficiency and also achieve overall sustainability. One method is to use the vehicle’s kinetic energy to propel the truck. Kinetic energy is the mechanical work needed to reduce an object’s speed to zero. When an object in motion is slowed down, its kinetic energy has to be transformed into some other form of energy.

Anders Eriksson, I-See product developer at Volvo Trucks said, “If kinetic energy can be exploited to a greater extent, it may help cut fuel consumption. This will benefit both the environment and the industry’s economy, something that is very important today as fuel costs are becoming an increasingly heavy burden on many haulage firms.”

Kinetic Energy Can Save 5 Per Cent

I-See is linked to the transmission’s tilt sensor and obtains information about the topography digitally. The fact that the system is not dependent on maps makes it more dependable since it always obtains the very latest information. I-See can recall about 4000 gradients, corresponding to a distance of 5000 kilometres.

According to Hayder Wokil, Product Manager at Volvo Trucks, the I-See solution is an autopilot linked to the truck’s cruise control, taking over and handling gearchanges, throttle and brakes on gradients, ensuring they all operate in the most fuel-efficient way possible. As I-See freewheels as much as possible, for certain stretches of road no fuel is used at all.

Hayder further explained, “This way, fuel consumption can be cut by up to 5%. This figure is based on the result of simulations and tests on public roads. I-See requires use of the cruise control and we know that on average drivers use cruise control about half the time. For a truck in normal operation, covering 140,000 kilometres a year, the saving will be about 1000 litres of fuel annually. This makes a big difference to the haulage firm’s profitability.”

Biggest Effect On Small Hills

I-See carries out six different operations to utilise the kinetic energy to the very maximum. For instance, I-See accelerates up hills, remains in a high gear for as long as possible and freewheels on descents to exploit the truck’s weight as a propulsion motor.

“I-See works best in undulating terrain. With moderately long and steep slopes, I-See ensures that you can freewheel for long distances without using the engine,” explained Anders Eriksson.

“It is this freewheeling capability that makes the system special. When the truck rolls freely, virtually no fuel is used. But in order to freewheel, a whole lot of data is required.

“It also imposes high demand on precision. For instance, you have to know whether your speed will drop or increase over the next stretch of road. A gradient of just a few per cent can be the decisive factor,” Anders further added.

Other factors that make a difference are air resistance and the truck’s weight. All told the system has to keep track of and process a lot of information. Many truck drivers who test I-See will recognise the driving style it adopts.

“I-See imitates the driving style of good drivers. They utilise the vehicle’s kinetic energy, accelerate in time and avoid unnecessary gearchanging. But unlike a driver, I-See never gets tired – it’s like an autopilot. This allows the driver to focus more on the surrounding traffic and other aspects of the journey. What is more, progress on the road is more relaxed. And an alert driver is a better driver. That’s something we know for sure,” Hayder Wokil further stated.

Anders Eriksson also pointed out that it is not only fuel that is saved. I-See reduces brake and tyre wear, for instance. And that naturally benefits the environment.

I-See will become available in 2013 in Europe. See a film about I-See on http://www.youtube.com/VolvoTrucks.

FACTS:

I-See has functions for six different scenarios on a gradient:

  • It accelerates before the incline starts.
  • If you are near the brow of a hill, the system avoids changing gear if possible. Every gearchange means a drop in speed.
  • It does not accelerate when approaching a descent, but instead waits and utilises gravity.
  • It starts freewheeling ahead of an approaching descent.
  • It starts braking well before the downhill slope ends, but
  • It releases the brakes at the end of the slope to pick up speed ahead of a new ascent.