A joint study conducted by Volvo Trucks and Michelin has found that a combination of good tyre choice, correct pressures and wheel alignment can save fuel by up to 15%. This could then equate to huge savings of nearly £7,000 per vehicle per year.

The test was 2 weeks long, covered 1,000km (621 miles) and was conducted in Hällered, Volvo’s Swedish test circuit. The trucks used were two Volvo FH 4x2s and each had a 500hp 13 litre Euro 5 engine. The trucks both weighed 40 tonnes gross from fully loaded van-bodied trailers. One truck was driven with a number of different incorrect tyre pressures, types and wheel alignments and one was driven with optimal tyre pressures, types and wheel alignments.

The exact speed of the trucks, tyre wear, rolling resistance and pressure was monitored with specialist equipment and adjustments were made by test engineers for confounding variables such as wind, rain and temperature.

The test was independently verified by a representative from SP (the Technical Research Institute of Sweden).  It was also maintained under realistic conditions with no exaggerations “because real life is bad enough”.

The test results found that tyre choice was the key factor to variations in fuel consumption, as it was responsible for an 11% difference. The next factor was wheel alignment with the finding that misaligned wheels used an extra 2.5% fuel. Lastly tyre pressure was found to affect fuel use by 1%. The results were explained by the fact that misalignment and lack of inflation as well as tyre type can cause an increase in rolling resistance.

These results not only apply to long-haul but can be extended to construction vehicles too.

Reduced fuel consumption of course also means reduced CO2 emissions. Considering that commercial trucks are responsible for 30-40% of transport emissions and 22% of the UK’s carbon dioxide comes from its roads, any savings made become very worthwhile.

It is not just fuel and CO2 that are saved but the evidence also suggests that tyre wear and durability is improved from using quality, well maintained tyres. This is because rolling resistance is the result of the friction that occurs when the tyre comes into contact with the road. This friction then transfers heat and kinetic energy to the surface of the tyre, breaking chemical bonds and freeing tiny particles. Tyres that wear down more slowly don’t just make savings on replacements and the resources to make them but will also release less particulate matter into the air from the tiny pieces of worn tyre. Particulate matter (PM) has been found to be very dangerous to human health; see the website of the Healthy Air Campaign for more information.

This study is an important demonstration of what a difference using the right tyres can make as well as ensuring correct maintenance. The Campaign for Better Tyres welcomes it as part of the growing body of scientifically verified evidence supporting our campaign message. We hope that this study will encourage more fleet owners and managers to ensure they have a good, robust tyre procurement and maintenance policy as now they have another reason to be confident in the potential savings.

 

 We are pleased to announce that London’s largest minicab firm, Addison Lee and also Transport for London’s Freight (soon to be Fleet) Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) have offered their support for the campaign.

Addison Lee won the Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Award for the best large private sector fleet in 2011. Over the course of last year they reduced their carbon emissions by 10% through measures such as driver education, reducing dead mileage and using innovative software to plan routes. They have also been looking into low carbon vehicle technology such as initiating a pilot project with two all-electric Nissan Leaf cars.  

A key campaign objective for the Campaign for Better Tyres has been to influence the tyre procurement and maintenance policy of large fleets, as this will subsequently affect a great number of vehicles. Addison Lee have drafted a new tyre policy whereby they have committed to follow our advice as far as is reasonably practical. When implemented, this will apply to their entire fleet of 3000 vehicles.

They have also agreed to be a case study to demonstrate to others the benefits of using better tyres. It is hoped that by seeing Addison Lee as a successful example, other companies will follow suit and also make the use of quality tyres a part of their policies.

Another organisation the Campaign for Better Tyres has been working with is TFL, specifically their FORS scheme. The scheme, which is free to join, is currently available to any freight company which runs vans and trucks on London roads. It is part of the wider London Freight Plan and works to help make freight in London safer, greener and more efficient.

There are three different grades of membership which helps lead companies through the necessary steps towards improvement, bronze, silver and gold. This is supplemented by an online benchmarking tool. Benchmarking can help FORS members compare their performance with similar operators in London; identify areas where they can improve and save money; develop goals for the company; add value to the business and show the efficiency of their operations to their customers.

 Bronze FORS members will have responsible and effective policies in place, also having a good knowledge of relevant fleet data such as the miles-per-gallon of their vehicles. Silver members must have a commitment to making improvements to their policies and practice, also having a robust monitoring system. To qualify for gold, members must demonstrate consistent improvement in all areas. Other benefits that members of FORS enjoy are: driver licence checks, fuel advice, workshops, breakdown assistance, driver profiling, PCN advice, toolkits and online driver training.

Up until now, FORS had not had a template tyre procurement and maintenance policy as part of its toolkit so they approached the Campaign for Better Tyres to work on one with them. Addison Lee have also been very helpful in this process, sending us the tyre policy they drafted. The Campaign for Better Tyres hopes to encourage FORS members to introduce a minimum set of grades for their tyres based on the new labelling (ideally A-C for fuel efficiency and wet grip and one bar for noise).

If you manage or work for an already green and efficient fleet we would love to hear from you and learn about your tyre policy. The more case studies we can get about the benefits of environmentally friendly, safe and quiet tyres, the sooner the rest will follow.

Please contact Layla.redway-harris@environmental-protection.org.uk

For more information on Addison Lee’s environmental commitments, see here: http://www.addisonlee.com/discover/environment/commitments

For more information about FORS, see here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/fors/default.aspx

  While it may seem a long time in the future, thinking now about how you can take full advantage of the new information presented on tyre labels can save missed opportunities later on.

The new labels will be mandatory on all car, van and light truck tyres and must be displayed at the point of sale from 1^st November 2012. Please see our page on tyre labelling information for more details of the content of these labels.

If you are managing a fleet of vehicles you may not see the tyres before you buy them, in which case the labels will be displayed on the accompanying paperwork. Taking note of these labels can save your fleet money, reduce CO2 emissions and increase safety both for your drivers and the general public.

In times of economic uncertainty, organisations have to cut back on spending wherever they can so it is very important to make sure you choose tyres that are as efficient as possible. Making such maintenance choices for your vehicles will be one of the best ways of protecting your business from the financial danger of unpredictable fuel prices.

While for some types of tyre this may result in an initial increase in cost, the payback time is relatively short. If an organisation is to achieve sustainability, ecological and financial, then thinking and planning for the long term is essential.

The rolling resistance of a tyre, which determines the fuel economy is rated from A-G, A being the most efficient. The difference between A and G rated tyres for cars is around 0.5l fuel per 100km which will result in 80 litres of fuel saved per year (based on an estimated 10,000km travel per year). This can then save £100 per year per vehicle (based on £1.30 per litre for petrol cars). [1]For commercial or public service vehicles that are used more frequently, this figure may be even higher.

An obstacle for many fleet managers to taking advantage of the new tyre labels is if their maintenance is outsourced to another company. There are fears that if fleet managers start to demand more expensive tyres then their maintenance contracts will increase. However, if there is enough consumer pressure put on these companies, they will be keen to keep both their prices and their level of service competitive with each other.

 Another issue for fleets wanting to take advantage of the new labelling is that some receive fuel vouchers with their maintenance contracts, making fuel efficiency less of a concern. In this case, it is worth bearing in mind that in the longer term, asking for more fuel efficient tyres will then save your maintenance company money, keeping the price of contracts down.

In the year leading up to the rolling out of this new tyre labelling and as fleet maintenance contracts come up for renewal, it may be worth asking your maintenance company if they intend to encompass this new information into their tyre fitting policy. If a company were to promise to only fit tyres from A-C in wet grip and rolling resistance for instance then you could be assured a good degree of economy and safety for your vehicles.

If your fleet maintenance is done in-house then now is the time to start looking at your own tyre fitting policy if you have not already done so. Consider setting a minimum standard based on the label grades which if done in good time will mean your organisation is sufficiently prepared to take full advantage of the labels as soon as they come out.

With fuel prices rising, it is more important than ever to maintain our tyres properly to minimise the friction caused by rolling resistance and improve fuel efficiency. However, while most of us will check the inflation of our tyres from time to time, there is one aspect of maintenance which is often overlooked – wheel alignment. 

When you buy a new car, its wheels are in perfect alignment to maximise comfort, performance and handling. However, over time the wheels become misaligned. This can occur gradually through everyday driving, or suddenly due to hitting a kerb or driving over a pothole. The wear of suspension parts can also affect alignment.

Driving on misaligned wheels has a number of disadvantages. Improper alignment increases drag on the tyres (rolling resistance), which increases fuel consumption and emissions. According to www.trackace.co.uk/, an average car wastes 10% of fuel at 2° misalignment. Improper alignment is also a major cause of premature tyre wear and can affect the handling and stability of your vehicle. By checking your wheel alignment regularly, you can save money by reducing fuel consumption and tyre wear, improve driving safety and help the environment by reducing emissions.

When should you check your wheel alignment?

It is not always obvious that your wheels are out of alignment, but wheel align experts www.alignmycar.co.uk suggest you look out for the following signs:

• Uneven tyre wear on the fronts or the rears 
  If you can’t visibly see the wear, run your hands over the tyre and you can soon feel where the rubber has worn excessively, on the inside or outside edges. (Warning: Be careful, in extreme cases of excessive wear fine wire may be protruding from the rubber). 
• The car pulls to the left and right
  When driving along a straight flat road and you either need to compensate through the steering to keep the car driving straight the car drifts to the left or right under braking. 
• A crooked steering wheel 
  The steering wheel is not straight, even when driving straight.

A s a general rule your alignment checked at least once a year, or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. However, it is also recommended that you check your alignment when you hit a kerb or pothole, new tyres are fitted, steering and suspension components are replaced or any time the vehicle has an accident or collision.

What sort of check?

There are two types of wheel alignment checks – tracking and four wheel alignment. Tracking checks and adjustments tend to take place on the front two wheels for the ‘Toe’ angle. Four wheel alignment measures a minimum of 12 angles and compares them to the alignment data specified by the vehicle manufacturer. This allows more accurate adjustments of the toe, camber, caster and other angles. 

Generally, four wheel alignment is considered more effective than tracking because tracking on the front wheels does not take into account the direction in which the rear wheels are pointing. If the rear wheels are misaligned, handling, fuel consumption and tyre wear could all be negatively affected.

 

Choosing a wheel alignment service

There are many different workshops offering alignment checks at different prices and levels, so to help you choose, AlignMyCar recommends that you ask the following key questions:

1) Do you offer a four wheel alignment?

2) Are all four wheel measured simultaneously?

2) How many primary angles does your aligner measure?  12 – 14 is the best

3) Does your aligner provide a printout of the ‘before’ and ‘after’ readings.

 

For more information on wheel alignment, visit www.alignmycar.co.uk

 

This article was published in Issue 50 of Green Fleet magazine and can be viewed at http://www.greenfleet.net/content/view/1039/1/

When it comes to greening the fleet, tyres are often overlooked. After all, how much difference can your choice of rubber make to the overall efficiency of a fleet? Rather a lot, it turns out

As the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, tyres play a big role in determining fuel efficiency, rolling noise and safety characteristics such as handling and braking. Developments in tyre technology mean that tyres are becoming more energy efficient, quieter and safer than ever, but there is still huge variation in the performance of the tyres currently on sale in the UK. By choosing better tyres you can cut fuel bills and CO2 emissions whilst also reducing vehicle rolling noise and improving the safety of your fleet.

 

ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING

The most important aspect of tyre design relating to fuel efficiency is rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is the friction that a tyre creates as it rolls down the road. It is caused when the tyre tread deforms as the wheel rotates, losing energy as heat. The greater the rolling resistance, the more power that the engine needs to drive the vehicle along and the more fuel it consumes. On average, tyre rolling resistance accounts for 20-30 per cent of a vehicle’s fuel consumption.

 Low rolling resistance tyres are designed to minimise the heat loss, thus reducing fuel consumption. Great strides have been made in this technology recently and the best performing car tyres on the market are ten per cent more fuel efficient than the worst performing tyres. Van and truck tyres can achieve even bigger savings.

 

PERFORMANCE WHEN WET

When choosing low rolling resistance tyres it is also vital to consider their wet grip performance, which reflects the tyre’s ability to brake on wet roads. Balancing rolling resistance and wet grip has been a big challenge for tyre manufacturers because grip is best served by rubber compounds which absorb high levels of energy, while reducing rolling resistance requires compounds which absorb low levels of energy.   

 Developments in tyre technology – such as the addition of silica to the tyre tread compound – means that there are now energy efficient tyres on the market which can match and even exceed the safety performance of standard tyres. However, not all tyres perform equally and the best tyres on the market can stop a massive 18 metres earlier than the worst in wet conditions.

Longevity is another important consideration when selecting tyres for a green fleet. Longer lasting tyres will reduce raw material consumption and related carbon emissions. Hard wearing tyres also emit fewer particles, which has benefits for air quality. In the past there were concerns that low rolling resistance tyres were less durable than standard tyres but evidence suggests that the latest generation of low rolling resistance tyres perform well in durability. 

 

VEHICLE NOISE 

A final consideration for sustainable fleets is tyre rolling noise, which is the dominant source of vehicle noise above speeds of around 25 mph. At present the quietest tyres on the market can cut rolling noise almost in half. By choosing these tyres for your fleet you can make an important contribution to reducing traffic noise – which currently affects six million people in the UK, leading to sleep disturbance, increased stress, raised blood pressure and even heart attacks.

 From November 2012 it will be easier to buy better tyres because new tyre labelling legislation recently agreed by the EU will be implemented in the UK. This will require all tyres to be labelled at point of sale with information on rolling resistance, rolling noise and wet grip. Tyre manufacturers will also have to display this information on their websites.

Rolling resistance and wet grip will be measured on a scale from A to G, with A being the best performers and G being the worst. Rolling noise will be measured in decibels split into three categories represented by black sound waves. One sound wave will demonstrate that the tyre is 3dB less than the future tighter European limit. Two black sound waves will demonstrate that the tyre is already compliant with the future European limit and three black sound waves will demonstrate that the tyre is compliant only with the current European limit (see label).

 In the meantime, the Campaign for Better Tyres is working with UK and European partners to provide fleet managers with data to help them compare the performance of tyres currently on sale in the UK. 

See the  Campaign for Better Tyres website at www.bettertyres.org.uk/why-better-tyres/buying-better-tyres. 

 

 

 

Pic by rosipaw

A new survey by Green Flag has shown that motorists have dramatically changed their driving behaviour in response to rising fuel prices, with some forced to ditch their cars altogether.

The survey revealed that more than one in five motorists has been driven off the road in the past year, either ditching their car completely or switching to more fuel efficient transport.

14% of those interviewed said they had stopped using their car altogether, while 14% said they used their car less frequently and are now walking to their destination more often than they drive. A further 7% said they had swapped their cars for motorbikes. 14% of drivers plan to either sell their cars or switch to more fuel-efficient cars as petrol prices continue to rise.

The research also shows that drivers across the UK are changing their driving habits in reaction to the ongoing rise in fuel prices, with 52% saying they have changed how they drive in the past year to save money.

58% said they have cut their average speed in order to conserve fuel, while 46% said they now shop around to find the least expensive fuel.

With fuel prices having such a big impact on household budgets and driver behaviour, it is more important than ever that motorists start thinking about how their tyres affect the fuel economy of their vehicles.

There are now tyres on the market which can reduce fuel consumption by 10% compared to the worst performing tyres - which can make a big difference to fuel bills. Drivers can also reduce their fuel consumption through careful tyre maintenance, such as making sure their tyres are inflated to the right pressure and that their wheels are correctly aligned.

For more information on how better tyres can help you reduce fuel bills, visit www.bettertyres.org.uk

For more information on the Green Flag survey visit http://www.greenflag.com/news/press/One-in-five-motorists-driven-off-the-road-by-soaring-fuel-prices.html

Pic by Ian Munnings

Last week, The Campaign for Better Tyres exhibited at the eighth annual Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) conference, which took place at Clifford Chance Auditorium in Canary Wharf, London.

With speakers including Jack Short, secretary general of the International Transport Forum, David Ward, director general at the FIA Foundation, Roland Hwang, programme director of the Natural Resource Defence Council and David Kennedy, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change - the conference offered a valuable insight into the problems of rising road transport emissions and the solutions available to tackle them.

With global carbon emissions from air, land and sea travel set to double by 2050, there is an urgent need to tackle transport efficiency. Road transport accounts for three quarters of total transport emissions, so decarbonising road transportation will be vital to this process.

The recession has slowed down worldwide carbon emissions but they are starting to creep up again, with transport emissions bouncing back quicker than others. A rapidly increasing world population and increasing wealth across the globe mean that emissions are likely to continue rising both absolutely and relatively unless we take some urgent action.

Barriers to progress

So what must be done? The conference speakers agreed that low carbon vehicle technology will be the key to reducing emissions but that there is also need for a political framework to drive consumers towards that technology. Unfortunately, while many politicians pay lip service to climate change, they are reluctant to make changes to transport policy which might prove unpopular.

Additionally, the speakers expressed concern that consumers display a certain amount of hypocrisy when it comes to climate change – they want to reduce emissions but many are unwilling to take action themselves. Motoring journalist Quentin Wilson took this one step further, suggesting that consumers “don’t give a stuff about climate change”, and should not be expected to – especially when some are currently choosing between driving and eating.

Interestingly, the current financial strain faced by drivers could be the key to reducing carbon emissions. As Wilson and several other speakers pointed out, high fuel prices are the biggest driver to consumer behaviour change and could result in adoption of low carbon technology- as long as consumers understand the fiscal benefits of adopting such technology.

Higher fuel prices and fears over fuel security could also drive political change. As one speaker pointed out, it has been said that we are “one regime change away from a global fuel crisis”, which could force politicians to adopt fuel economy policies.

Future fuels

If high fuel prices do drive politicians and consumers to move towards a more sustainable mobility future, what will it look like?

Both speakers and delegates agreed that electric, hydrogen, biofuels and biomethane will all play a role in the future fuel mix and that there will be different solutions for different purposes.

However, it was also agreed that electric and alternative fuels are unlikely to replace conventional internal combustion engines by 2050.

Thankfully, there is still potential to make significant improvements using existing technology, such as more efficient internal combustion engines and energy efficient tyres. Changing driving behaviour, reducing vehicle size and reducing speed limits could also reduce emissions.

Generally, it was agreed that there is no silver bullet to reducing transport related emissions. Success will depend on the adoption of small, cumulative measures alongside new alternative technologies, and consumer demand backed up by political will.

 

The Campaign for Better Tyres has pledged its support to the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which aims to reduce road deaths and injuries across the world.

Currently 1.3 million people are killed on the roads globally each year, with as many as 50 million more injured. The UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but there are still around 2,000 deaths annually and road crashes are the leading cause of death for young people over 10 years old.

The Campaign for Better Tyres will support the Decade of Action on Road Safety by educating consumers about the fact that some tyres perform considerably better in terms of safety than others. The safest tyres currently on sale in the UK can stop as much as 18 metres – longer than an articulated lorry – earlier on wet roads than the worst tyres, which can help prevent accidents.

The campaign will also highlight the importance of proper tyre maintenance, such as ensuring they are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.

We are proud to support this important UN initiative, which could save millions of lives globally, and hope that by raising awareness of these issues and providing information to help consumers make informed choices, we can contribute to the Decade of Action for Road Safety’s aim to reduce road deaths and injuries.

Commenting on the our pledge, Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), said: said: “Tyres are the key interface between the car and the road. Although tyre failure is very rare, the more information that consumers can have about tyre safety the better.”

 

It has been a busy few weeks for us at the Campaign for Better Tyres.

Following a very interesting meeting last month, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders and their subsidiary Motor Codes are now full partners of the campaign and we will be doing some joint-campaigning work on tyre related issues.

The Parliamentary Advisory Councils for Transport Safety is also now on board and we look forward to working with them in the near future.

I was also lucky enough to visit the bi-annual sustainable mobility conference Challenge Bibendum as a guest of Michelin last month. The conference took place in the magnificent Templehof airport in Berlin, which played a vital roll in sustaining West Berlin during the Soviet blockade of the city in 1948/49. The airport's rich history and imposing architecture made it an inspired choice for the conference - check in desks were used for registration, huge hangers for the seminars and the runway was a test track for the vehicles on show.

The conference itself was excellent, with an impressive display of sustainable technologies and some important discussions around fuel efficiency and road safety. On the tyres front, Michelin unveiled some of the latest generation technology, with has been developed with a focus on reducing raw material usage and improving fuel economy. Protoypes on display included ‘tall and thin’, puncture proof and small-wheeled tyres.

The next conference in the calendar is the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership conference, which is taking place at Canary Wharf on 9^th June. The Campaign for Better Tyres will be exhibiting so keep an eye out for us!

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Pic by Kenjenbro

None of us relish the effort and expense our annual  MOT tests but the majority of us understand that it is an important way to ensure that our vehicles – and those of other road users – are safe and roadworthy.

UK motorists have more frequent  MOT tests than the rest of Europe, but we also have some of the safest roads in the world.

Which is why industry bodies, trade associations and consumer motoring organisations are at a loss to understand Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond’s proposal to increase the interval between MOT tests in the UK.

Hammond wants to bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe by switching to a 4.2.2  MOT regime – with the first  MOT test taking place when the car is four years old and subsequent tests taking place every other year thereafter.

He has justified his proposal by pointing out that car technology has advanced since the current MOT rules were introduced in the 1960s, and claims that motorists will benefit from reduced costs.

Opponents disagree, however, pointing out that while cars are becoming more reliable, components such as tyres are still subject to wear.

For many people,  MOT tests are one of the few times that tyres are examined. According to figures from the Tyre Industry Industry Federation, there are 2.3 million tyre-related  MOT failures every year, which suggests that less frequent  MOT testing would result in more vehicles with illegal or unsafe tyres and higher accident rates on UK roads

Indeed, a 2008 report from the Department for Transport – which carried out a comprehensive review of the UK’s  MOT regime – concluded that extending the period between tests would lead to were 400 extra deaths and 2,500 serious injuries a year.

When you consider that changing MOT frequency would save motorists just £100 for the first six years of a cars life, it hardly seems worth the risk. Particularly when motorists themselves oppose the move – a survey of 4,200 motorists carried out by the  MOT forum suggested that 92% of motorists were in favour of maintaining annual tests.

Which leaves you wondering why Hammond is so keen to change the regime? And hoping that if he does, he has considered the work that will need to be done to encourage motorists to take proper care of their cars and replace worn tyres before they pose a risk to their own lives and the lives of others.

> For more information on the  MOT Frequency Campaign visit the National Tyre Distributors Association website.>