Browse Topic: Fleets
Camera-based mirror systems (CBMS) are being adopted by commercial fleets based on the potential improvements to operational efficiency through improved aerodynamics, resulting in better fuel economy, improved maneuverability, and the potential improvement for overall safety. Until CBMS are widely adopted it will be expected that drivers will be required to adapt to both conventional glass mirrors and CBMS which could have potential impact on the safety and performance of the driver when moving between vehicles with and without CBMS. To understand the potential impact to driver perception and safety, along with other human factors related to CBMS, laboratory testing was performed to understand the impact of CBMS and conventional glass mirrors. Drivers were subjected to various, nominal driving scenarios using a truck equipped with conventional glass mirrors, CBMS, and both glass mirrors and CBMS, to observe the differences in metrics such as head and eye movement, reaction time, and
As the United States Army explores electrified tactical vehicles, wireless power transfer (WPT) has emerged as a promising recharging method. WPT allows multiple vehicles to recharge while in proximity of a charging station based on a mobile platform. This study examines the requirements of WPT by analyzing geo-location data from over 400 tactical vehicles at the National Training Center. The data was extracted, cleaned, and analyzed to identify periods when vehicles were close enough for effective WPT. The analysis quantifies the amount of time vehicles spend in proximity and their average distance apart, both while stationary and moving, to establish initial WPT requirements. These results were combined with energy consumption rates to estimate the power throughput of a WPT system. Vehicles were found to be stationary and close to other vehicles for most of the day, making WPT a practical solution in those situations. Although the analysis found that WPT is feasible during convoys
E-mobility is revolutionizing the automotive industry by improving energy-efficiency, lowering CO2 and non-exhaust emissions, innovating driving and propulsion technologies, redefining the hardware-software-ratio in the vehicle development, facilitating new business models, and transforming the market circumstances for electric vehicles (EVs) in passenger mobility and freight transportation. Ongoing R&D action is leading to an uptake of affordable and more energy-efficient EVs for the public at large through the development of innovative and user-centric solutions, optimized system concepts and components sizing, and increased passenger safety. Moreover, technological EV optimizations and investigations on thermal and energy management systems as well as the modularization of multiple EV functionalities result in driving range maximization, driving comfort improvement, and greater user-centricity. This paper presents the latest advancements of multiple EU-funded research projects under
Innovation often comes a piece at a time, but what happens when you put all those pieces together at once? That is precisely the question Shell is attempting to answer with its Starship initiative. Now in its third iteration, Starship 3.0 Natural Gas continues pushing the boundaries of efficiency and emissions reduction by employing all currently available technologies and engineering advancements. The Shell Starship initiative was first launched in 2018 with the aim of setting new benchmarks for the commercial road transport sector. The Starship 2.0 managed 254 ton-miles per gallon for freight ton efficiency (FTE), which is 3.5 times the North American average. Additionally, Starship 2.0 recorded fuel consumption of 10.8 mpg on a cross-country run, which according to Shell is nearly double the current fleet average in North America.
Details of combustion — the chemical reactions that take place when, for example, a flame is lit — are fleeting and therefore, difficult to study. But scientists would like to better understand the complex processes that occur in those billionths of seconds, not only to make engines more efficient but also to shed light on how candle flames, cars, and airplanes produce gases and particles that are harmful to humans and the environment.
HD Hyundai recently announced several new additions to its portfolio of off-highway machines. The expansion includes the HD100 dozer, the HX355A excavator, and a quartet of new models for its HX-A series of compact excavators. The HD100 is Hyundai's first new crawler dozer model. “The new HD100 dozer will be a great addition to the equipment fleets of earthmoving contractors, forestry, waste handlers and other customers who already enjoy the benefits of using Hyundai wheel loaders and excavators,” said Mike Ross, senior VP, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America.
FirstElement's station at the Port of Oakland can put 100 kg of hydrogen in up to 200 trucks a day in less than 10 minutes each. It may be missing the food and hospitality trappings of what most would consider a proper “truck stop,” but the nation's first high-volume, rapid-fill hydrogen truck refueling station is a giant leap toward a future in which H2 is the natural and sustainable fuel for the nation's heavy-haul overland transportation needs. FirstElement Fuel recently opened the location under its True Zero brand at the Port of Oakland, where a dedicated fleet of 30 Class 8 Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen-powered trucks will stay fueled as they operate virtually 24/7 moving containers and cargo around Alameda County. The station, which stores liquid H2 on site, has two HD truck fueling positions and four medium- or light-duty positions. Among the station's previously unheard-of numbers: 18,000 kg (39,700 lb) per day of pumping capacity. Can simultaneously support back-to-back fast fills
Volvo made several key announcements at the 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas. The company also reaffirmed its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions with a 100% fossil-free fleet of trucks and off-highway machines by 2040. “The sustainable future is not only about electric trucks, though they do play a very important role,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “It's about all the things that we transport. For a sustainable future, there is not one silver bullet. We will have different technologies that all enable zero-emissions trucks. This will include electric drivelines, hydrogen fuel cells, and internal combustion engines.”
The optimization and further development of automated driving functions offers great potential to relieve the driver in various driving situations and increase road safety. Simulative testing in particular is an indispensable tool in this process, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the design of automated driving functions at a very early stage of development. In this context, the use of driving simulators provides support so that the driving functions of tomorrow can be experienced in a very safe and reproducible environment. The focus of the acceptance and optimization of automated driving functions is particularly on vehicle lateral control functions. As part of this paper, a test person study was carried out regarding manual vehicle lateral control on the dynamic vehicle road simulator at the Institute of Automotive Engineering. The basis for this is the route generation as a result of the evaluation of curve radii from several hundred thousand kilometers of real measurement
The conventional process of last-mile delivery logistics often leads to safety problems for road users and a high level of environmental pollution. Delivery drivers must deal with frequent stops, search for a convenient parking spot and sometimes navigate through the narrow streets causing traffic congestion and possibly safety issues for the ego vehicle as well as for other traffic participants. This process is not only time consuming but also environmentally impactful, especially in low-emission zones where prolonged vehicle idling can lead to air pollution and to high operational costs. To overcome these challenges, a reliable system is required that not only ensures the flexible, safe and smooth delivery of goods but also cuts the costs and meets the delivery target. In the dynamic landscape of last-mile delivery, LogiSmile, an EU project, introduced a solution to urban delivery challenges through an innovative cooperation between an Autonomous Hub Vehicle (AHV) and an Autonomous
Publicly available autonomous vehicles have been operating in Abu Dhabi since 2021, providing over 16,000 rides covering more than 300,000 km (186,400 miles). If the organizers and supporters of the inaugural DriftX conference have their way, these numbers will soon be dwarfed by autonomous vehicles of all types moving people and goods across the UAE and the wider MENA region. So far, all of these autonomous trips have been provided by the eight free, app-hailable AVs that are currently roaming around Yas and Saadiyat Islands. Motorsport fans will recognize Yas Island as the location of the Yas Marina Circuit used by Formula 1 and other racing events. The weekend after DriftX, for example, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League held its inaugural event there. It's all part of an intense governmental push to turn the Emirates into a global leader in AVs.
Modine exec says EV thermal management systems have evolved significantly from the technology used by ICE vehicles just five years ago. A rarity only a few years ago, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming part of the daily lives of constantly increasing numbers of drivers. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, passenger EV sales soared by about 25% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the IEA's annual Global EV Outlook. While the passenger EV market charges ahead toward widespread adoption, the off-highway vehicle segment lags in electrification. The burly and rugged workhorses that do the heavy lifting in construction and agriculture have been slower in embracing electrification due to their heavier workloads and duty cycles. In addition to larger batteries, traction motors and countless other components, the electrification of this class of vehicles also requires a steep learning curve, all of which impact stakeholders up and down the value chain. For example, navigating
Kia is positioning itself to make waves in the commercial vehicle sector. At CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the company pulled back the curtains on its electrified commercial van lineup. Though the designs are still at the concept stage, Kia has made it clear that it intends to enter the global commercial van space in short order. SAE Media interviewed Tim Walker, director of fleet and remarketing, at NTEA's Work Truck Week 2024 in Indianapolis to discuss some design details of the PV vans, Kia's overall strategy for entering the commercial vehicle sector, and the challenges of bringing the vans to market.
The 2023 FISITA White Paper (for which the author was a contributor) on managing in-service emissions and transportation options, to reduce CO2 (CO2-e or carbon footprint) from the existing vehicle fleet, proposed 6 levers which could be activated to complement the rapid transition to vehicles using only renewable energy sources. Another management opportunity reported here is optimizing the vehicle’s life in-service to minimize the life-cycle CO2 impact of a range of present and upcoming vehicles. This study of the US vehicle fleet has quite different travel and composition characteristics to European (EU27) vehicles. In addition, the embodied CO2 is based on ANL’s GREET data rather than EU27 SimaPro methodology. It is demonstrated that in-service, whole-of-life mileage has a significant influence on the optimum life cycle CO2 for BEVs and H2 fuelled FCEVs, as well as ICEs and PHEVs. Thus, the object is to show how much present, typical in-service life-mileage differs from the
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