Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 163

170 C | THE DIVISIONS | DAIMLER TRUCKS
Integrated approach for maximum efficiency
In the Efficiency Run practical test that was presented in October
2015, Daimler Trucks and three freight-forwarding companies
demonstrated that optimally coordinated truck combinations can
reduce fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions by a double-
digit percentage, using systems that are already available on the
market. The vehicles were equipped with the Predictive Power-
train Control (PPC) cruise control system, which optimally coor-
dinates gear shifting with the route’s topography. Weight-
optimized semitrailers and low-resistance tires were also used
in the field test. This integrated approach aims to optimize
not only the engine but also the entire truck transport system.
The two standard Mercedes-Benz Actros tractors that were
optimized for the Efficiency Run consumed about 12 to 14% less
fuel than a standard semitrailer tractor in the fleet of the freight-
forwarding company. The long truck that was also tested during
the Efficiency Run had an approximately 17% better fuel effi-
ciency in volume-based transportation than the test’s standard
tractor and semitrailer. The test confirmed that two long
trucks can perform the transport tasks of three conventional
semitrailer trucks. DEKRA, a technical test organization,
accompanied the Efficiency Run and certified its results.
Customer tests of the FUSO Canter E-Cell successfully
completed
Eight preproduction-series FUSO Canter E-Cells were tested by
selected customers in a one-year field test in Portugal. A data
analysis of the customer test showed that the operating costs
were reduced by 64% compared to those of a conventional
diesel truck. With ranges of over 100 kilometers, the Canter
E-Cells surpassed the average distance that many trucks
cover in light-duty distribution transport each day. The electri-
cally powered light trucks are locally emission-free and nearly
silent, making them well-suited for short-distance distribution
transport in inner cities.
Daimler Trucks studies and series vehicles win awards
Daimler Trucks North America received the US Department of
Energy’s renowned Distinguished Achievement Award for the
results of its SuperTruck concept vehicle. The award-winning
truck shows how freight transportation on roads can be made
as environmentally compatible and fuel-efficient as possible in
the future. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025
won the internationally renowned iF Design Award 2015. Last
year, the Mercedes-Benz Actros won the Green Truck Award,
which is presented by the editors of the magazines Trucker and
VerkehrsRundschau. The winners of this award are primarily
chosen on the basis of their fuel consumption, and thus also of
their CO2 emissions.
Leading position in the field of safety
We are consolidating our leading position in the field of safety
by introducing new assistance systems and further developing
the emergency-braking and lane-keeping assistants. One
of the systems we will launch in the near future is the turning
assistant. By detecting pedestrians, cyclists and stationary
obstacles, this system can prevent accidents and save lives,
especially in city traffic.
Strategic focus on connectivity and digitization
In addition to safety and efficiency, truck connectivity plays a
crucial role as the third pillar of Daimler Trucks’ technology
strategy. A truck generates a large amount of data, which can
be usefully applied in many ways. For example, modern
telematics systems can already record and analyze how efficiently
a vehicle is operated and can communicate that to the driver
or owner. Many more possibilities will exist in the future. With
the help of data transmitted by trucks in real time, trucking
companies will be able to organize their overall logistics more
efficiently. It will enable them to shorten trucks’ standing times,
optimize maintenance intervals and reduce fuel consumption. In
order to strengthen its technological expertise in this area,
Daimler Trucks has purchased a stake in Zonar Systems Inc.,
a leading developer and supplier of logistics, telematics and
connectivity solutions. Daimler Trucks North America and Zonar
will jointly launch applications that are tailored to the needs
of North American customers. The two companies have already
been partners for the past five years, cooperating, among
other things, on the development of the telematics solution
Detroit Connect E page 22. This solution includes an onboard
diagnostic and fleet monitoring system and can determine the
cause of a fault message while the vehicle is still in motion.
This can reduce servicing-related downtimes and thus cut main-
tenance costs. Repair costs can sink by as much as 20% while
operating time can increase by 6%.