Reliable Measuring System for Fuel Consumption of Earth-Movers

Fuel economy is an important customer requirement which determines the position of earth-movers such as backhoe loaders in the market. Earth-movers are heavy duty machines that are used for construction works. Currently fuel consumption in earth-movers is quantified as fuel consumed per unit time (Liters per hour). Similarly, conventional measure of productivity of the earth-movers is in terms of volume of soil trenched per hour. Measurements using the above scales showed wide variations in measured fuel consumption and productivity,

• For the same equipment between measurements
• Two equipment of same make at different trench locations and
• Against the competitor equipment

This inconsistency and lack of a proper measuring system made logical decision making extremely difficult. This paper describes the step by step procedures involved in deriving the methodology for robust fuel consumption measurement of earth-mover vehicles.