To verify performance claims, especially those about fuel efficiency, a growing number of fleets and suppliers are turning to FPInnovations’ Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) group. The not-for-profit engineering and research center for the North American trucking industry is now a benchmark for testing services in both in Canada and United States, working in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. SmartWay Transport Partnership to meet demanding testing protocols.
“The goal of all our evaluations is to use our controlled test-track fuel efficiency studies to provide the commercial vehicle industry with the information it needs to make sound equipment choices,” said Yves Provencher, director of PIT. “We are equipped to identify the real value of each technology so fleet operators can focus their implementation efforts where they get the best return on their capital investment.”
PIT’s biannual Energotest event, which features testing of various technologies, is held at the Transport Canada test track in Blainville, Quebec. Technologies are supplied for Energotest evaluations in several ways. In most cases, fleets will refer a supplier to PIT. Additionally, suppliers and venture capital investors come to PIT for an unbiased evaluation of new technologies and technology developers are increasingly using Energotest to evaluate and refine prototypes. In all cases, the customer pays for the testing.
Recent Energotest trials have included performance evaluations on trailers equipped with side skirts and undercarriage aerodynamic devices. SAE J1321 Fuel Consumption Test Procedure—Type II results show that trailers with side skirts consumed an average of 6.69% less fuel than similar vehicles without skirts. Trailers with undercarriage aerodynamic devices consumed 1.43% less fuel on average than similar units without the deflectors.
PIT also recently compared 6×2 and 6×4 trucks. The test results show that 6×2 tractors consume less fuel than similar 6×4 tractors. At the same time, traction performance evaluations show that 6×2 tractors travel shorter distances, reach lower maximum speeds, and have slower acceleration rates compared to 6×4 models.
The latest PIT Energotest featured fuel consumption tests and emissions measurements comparing North American and European trucks. Values for fuel savings will be released later this year.
For more information, visit www.fpinnovations.ca.
