Freightliner Trucks recently announced the results of its Evolution of Efficiency Tour. According to the truck maker, the tour – a cross-country, side-by-side comparison of an EPA 2010-compliant Freightliner Cascadia and the new 2014 Cascadia Evolution – revealed that the Cascadia Evolution delivers up to 7% in fuel savings over a similarly spec’d EPA 2010 Cascadia.
Powered only by a newly designed Detroit DD15 engine, the Cascadia Evolution features some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancements in the industry, according to the company.
“The Evolution of Efficiency Tour provided us with the unique opportunity to gauge the fuel efficiency of our newest truck – the Cascadia Evolution – against the Cascadia, our most fuel efficient product to date,” said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “This tour put our latest technologies and innovations to the test in real-world circumstances, and validates our continuous achievements in fuel economy over the past several years.
“From the EPA 2010 baseline, the Cascadia had already demonstrated an up to 2% fuel economy improvement with the addition of next-generation chassis fairings and side extenders for model year 2013,” Reed continued. “When you combine those efficiencies with the 5% improvement demonstrated by the Cascadia Evolution, our customers will realize substantial operating savings at a time when they need it the most.”
The tour launched May 17 in San Diego and ended May 23 in Gastonia, N.C. The 2,400-mile route crossed the U.S., traveling through a variety of terrains, averaging between 250 and 425 miles per day.
Both trucks were set at a 62 MPH cruise speed and carried 76,000 lb. GCW. At the end of each day, fuel consumption was calculated by Automotive Testing and Development Services (ATDS), an independent, third-party auditor using high-accuracy fuel flow meters. To further ensure consistency, drivers and trailers were swapped between tractors at the mid-point each day and the vehicles were fueled at the end of each day using a fuel tanker carrying a consistent blend of fuel.
“In comparing the vehicles, we followed a standard fuel economy test procedure as close as possible given the unique nature of this drive. Very few fuel economy tests encompass these kinds of mileages and terrain so we went to great lengths to ensure that the vehicles were operated as similarly as possible and in accordance with standardized test procedures,” said Al Pearson, chief engineer of product validation engineering for Daimler Trucks North America.
The two trucks used on the tour were: an EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia 125-in. tractor with a 72-in. raised roof and first-generation aerodynamic package, equipped with a Detroit DD15 engine, featuring a 225-in. wheelbase, Eaton UltraShift Plus and Detroit tandem rear axles; and a production model 2014 Cascadia Evolution 125-in. tractor with a 72-in. raised roof and Evolution aerodynamic package, equipped with a newly designed Detroit DD15 engine, featuring a 225-in. wheelbase, Eaton UltraShift Plus and Detroit tandem rear axles.
The final measured results published by ATDS report a 7.01% benefit in fuel consumption of the Cascadia Evolution relative to a similarly spec’d EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia, the company stated.
