| Eco-driving leads to fuel savings in waste management in Maribor, Slovenia |
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Maribor (Slovenia)
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| Driver training, motivation and appropriate rewarding are promising measures to achieve lower fuel consumption even in the waste collection sector with driving characteristics strongly determined by stop and go and high demand of auxiliary consumers. Further significant fuel savings can be realised through optimised routing. |
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Background & ObjectivesSnaga, a Maribor based waste collection, management and transport company operates seventy municipal vehicles and mobile machinery which differ according to their specific function. With growing importance of ecological aspects of the company’s primary activity (waste collection and removal) Snaga has joined the RECODRIVE project as demonstrator in order to implement and test Driver Training and Rewarding.
Considering different driving characteristics of waste collection vehicles (the need to stop and start frequently) the eco-driving technique can have an important impact on fuel consumption. On the other hand the need to be idle when the waste is being loaded (the vehicle’s engine supplies the power needed to operate the Refuse Loading System) can abate the positive effects of eco-driving on fuel savings.With existing vehicle fleet, fuel consumption can be immediately lowered through application of eco-driving.
The company SNAGA has joined the RECODRIVE initiative in order to implement several measures like driver training, vehicle specification, improved routing in order to achieve lower fuel consumption.
ImplementationTo improve drivers’ competence and skills the company has conducted comprehensive training programme for three drivers who are selected on the basis of their route. The goal was to test the implementation of eco-driving on three routes representing the typical characteristics of company’s day to day operations. The drivers were imparted theoretical and practical training on eco-driving adapted to their route and vehicle specifications.
ConclusionsIt was observed after the training that these three drivers have achieved noticeable savings in eight month period - on average 56 litres of fuel were saved by each vehicle every month ie., the average reduction in fuel consumption is 4,23% per month on average ( A vehicle covers 1.743 kilometres consuming 1.115 litres of fuel a month on average after the driver training).
The implementation of rewarding scheme, based on company’s existing standards, enabled the fleet manager to reward drivers on the basis of achieved fuel saving. The scheme is based on comparison of average fuel consumption of the vehicle measured in the period preceding training with the achieved average fuel consumption after the training period. |
The calculations are done on monthly basis. Additionally the corresponding period in the previous year is taken into consideration (e.g. comparison of the fuel consumption in May of 2009 with fuel consumption in May 2008) in order to reduce the impact of weather and seasonality on the fuel consumption. If the driver manages to reduce his/her fuel consumption (measured in %) he/she is awarded with wage bonus for that month. Maximum 10% wage bonus can be a awarded for reduced fuel consumption. This consequently motivated the drivers to constantly perform and implement eco-driving techniques.
Additionally, by making necessary changes in the optimised part of their routing plan, the company is able to collect the same amount of waste on the same area as before but with one vehicle less.
The results show that, even in waste transportation with specific characteristics, fuel savings are achievable. “Snaga” has achieved on average 4,2% reduction on fuel consumption in a period of eight months through Driver Training and Motivation. On the other hand companies should consider areas beyond driving and vehicle specifications, such as improved routing which would enable the company to lower their fuel costs.
AuthorKatja Hanzic
Contact Katja Hanzic
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Beyond eco-driving - fuel savings multiply when fleet management meets eco-driving for all kinds of fleets