The optiTruck project will launch this week a real-life test of its fuel optimisation module, in the form of a long-haul delivery mission across Europe carrying shipments for IKEA and Electrolux. The project aims to reduce the fuel consumption of heavy trucks by up to 20%, and will put its Global Optimiser to the test with this transport mission through Turkey, Greece and Italy, in a baseline truck and a testbed truck equipped with the system.
Two Ford F-Max Comfort Plus tractors with Otokar semi-trailers will depart from Uşak, Turkey on 17 July carrying a shipment for IKEA, who partnered with optiTruck for this purpose. After taking the ferry from Igoumenitsa (GR) to Brindisi (IT), the drivers will reach the IKEA logistics centre in Piacenza, near Milan, on 22 July. For the return journey, optiTruck partnered with Electrolux: after loading cargo at the Electrolux plant in Porcia (IT), near Treviso on 23 July, both trucks will travel back through Brindisi and Igoumenitsa, reaching Istanbul on 28 July and completing a 5000km, 12-day journey through three countries.
“In addition to the ten Innovation Elements developed by optiTruck, our biggest challenge is to test the system with a real mission on this international route that will highlight the importance of our work” says Jean-Charles Pandazis, Senior Manager at ERTICO and Project Coordinator for optiTruck.
Bringing together the most advanced technologies from powertrain control and ITS to improve fuel efficiency in heavy-duty road haulage, the optiTruck partners have created a global optimiser consisting of a set of dynamic, intelligent control and prediction components for effective powertrain management. Based on a predictive control system, the optiTruck global optimiser is expected to deliver a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20% on a typical road transport mission for a 40t truck, while achieving Euro VI emission standards.
