Top Technologies to Derive Better Fuel Economy for Small Trucks
Published On Apr 28, 2016
In today’s technology driven world, road transport too has become tech savvy for ensuring better output, higher profit margins and to provide best services. Nowadays truck makers and buyers both emphasize on technologies which could help business owners improve their transportation needs.
The small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment are an essential part of overall supply chain delivery and last mile transport. These SCVs are responsible to deliver goods to the end consumers and as their most of the trips are within the city, fuel economy is the most important for them.
With the advancement in technology and relatively small engine size it’s easy to modify engines of pickups and mini trucks to get the optimum fuel economy. Below are some of the technologies that can be used for minimizing fuel consumption:
Turbochargers
Approximately all the pick-up and mini trucks run on diesel engine and it’s a known fact that diesel requires more air to burn properly. To ensure the proper air supply at high speeds and temperatures, turbochargers are the best tech component to use.
While using a turbocharged engine, more air is sucked during the combustion as fuel burns better and properly, thus, fuel economy is definitely entitled for improvement.
Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
While allowing fuel to enter into the combustion chamber, the opening and closing timing of valves is quite important to ensure that fuel enters only when no residue is left. The combustion process is very fast-paced and to make sure that only fuel or air gets in during intake process, VVT sensors need to be precise and open enough for fuel intake.
When VVTs work in sync with combustion process, the fuel gets into the chamber in desired amount and produce required power along with better fuel economy to enhance the performance quotient.
Automatic Start-Stop
A myth quite popular among drivers is that switching the engine on and off every time they stop would consume more fuel than regular. Well, auto makers have busted the theory by providing auto start-stop button in vehicles to save some fuel while on short breaks.
Commercial vehicles too are getting this update and it is helping save quite a lot of fuel when the vehicle is stuck at traffic signals or while there’s need of unloading the goods at different stop points within the city.
Direct Injection
During earlier times, diesel used to be inserted into the combustion chamber with the help of throttle body and port fuel injection system. These systems were not very effective because of the scattered supply of fuel.
Nowadays, direct injection is being used to put the fuel into the chamber in a more precise way. This technique doesn’t spill the fuel all over but puts it at the most pressurized area for better burning process hence increases fuel economy with enhanced power.
Cylinder Deactivation
While this cylinder deactivation technology is not very common among the commercial vehicles running on road, it is quite significant with relation to fuel economy. This technology is smart enough to shut down the cylinders when there is less need of power for example while the pick-up is running empty or downhill.
When cylinders get shut down, the fuel will automatically be conserved for future and hence you’ll be getting more mileage.
Conclusion
Saving fuel has always been on the cards of commercial vehicle makers and with time the tech has evolved to help them save fuel costs. However, some driving tips too could chip in while it comes to save fuel, but with the aforementioned technologies, transporters will surely get more fuel economy.
See Also:
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