As the adoption of electric vehicles increases, it’s important that drivers still remember the important role they play in improving a fleet’s fuel efficiency.
I’ve talked in the past about the important role that truck drivers play in fuel economy. Some experts say that drivers have as much as a 30% impact on a vehicle’s fuel economy. One of the things we learned in the first Run on Less is just how dedicated some drivers are to squeezing every mile out of a gallon of fuel.
The seven long-haul drivers in the Run were very competitive about who had the best numbers—even though we were clear that the Run was a demonstration, not a competition. One thing I vividly remember is, when we got all the drivers together in Atlanta, how willing they were to share some of their fuel-efficiency best practices. While each one wanted to get the most miles out of a gallon of diesel, they also wanted to help other drivers gets better miles per gallon.
We’ve been talking a lot about electric vehicles lately and about their overall freight efficiency. While we expect electric vehicles to be very efficient, that does not mean drivers will be less important. In fact, many of the same smart driving practices that apply to diesel-powered vehicles still will apply to electric ones. The way drivers accelerate and brake will still matter. Plus, there is the efficiency around how the driver manages the regenerative braking of an electric truck.
Even seasoned drivers will need some training on driving EVs. It seems to me that a good way to start that training is by reviewing some of the basic fundamentals of driving efficiently like avoiding quick accelerations and hard braking. This is also a good time to review safe-driving practices. There is a connection between safe drivers and fuel-efficient drivers, so talking about both of those subjects together makes good sense.
Electric vehicles are different from diesel-powered ones, but what is not different is the role of the driver in the safe and efficient operation of a commercial vehicle, regardless of the power source.
Make sure all your drivers know the important role they play in helping your fleet operate efficiency. And be sure to regularly share tips and best practices with them, because 30% can add up to big savings in gallons of diesel or kilowatts of electricity.
Michael Roeth has worked in the commercial vehicle industry for nearly 30 years, most recently as executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency. He serves on the second National Academy of Sciences Committee on Technologies and Approaches for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and has held various positions in engineering, quality, sales, and plant management with Navistar and Behr/Cummins.
Source: https://www.fleetowner.com/
