The needs of the customer are the most important factor for Iveco in directing its product engineering solutions. With this in mind, Iveco has developed the new vehicle, with the aim of reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
In the management of a heavy vehicle operating on international routes, there are different elements that affect cost as a percentage: the value of the investment (8%), maintenance and repair of the vehicle (5%), fuel consumption (36%), driver cost (33%) and tolls and taxes (18%).
The development of the new product and the range of services have focused on minimising each individual cost component in order to respond fully to the needs of an ever more competitive market.
Combining the quality of the product with a range of integrated services, including programmed assistance, fleet management and driver training for economical driving, Iveco can obtain a TCO reduction of up to 4% on an international mission carried out with a tractor STRALIS Hi-Way, over an average distance of 130,000 kilometres a year for four years.
As part of the costs that contribute to determining the value of the TCO, the most significant factor is represented by fuel consumption. Building on the ECOSTRALIS technologies already applied in the previous range, which ensured excellent fuel efficiency, the new STRALIS is complemented by next-generation solutions. In combination, these contributions allow for a fuel saving of up to 10%.
Among the solutions already present in the previous range it is necessary to highlight:
- the ECOSWITCH, that limits maximum speed and optimises powertrain performance according to the gross vehicle weight;
- the ECOFLEET mode, a unique setting within the EUROTRONIC transmission, that inhibits manual gear change in order to avoid non-efficient driving behaviour;
- the TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) which measures the air pressure inside the tyres, thus contributing to reducing fuel consumption and tyre wear, as well as to the vehicle safety;
- the low-rolling resistance tyres;
- the optimised drive axle ratio depending on mission and tyres.
The pursuit of vehicle efficiency is a process of continuous improvement, and also makes use of advanced and easy-to-use control devices, like the “Driving Style Evaluation”, an instrument that allows the driver to improve driving behaviour in real time.
The idea for this instrument was born out of the awareness that an efficient driving style can generate fuel savings of 5% to 12%, superior to any technology solution. To improve the driver performance, the system processes the data acquired by the engine, vehicle and GPS through an advanced algorithm developed by Iveco, and provides two types of feedback in real time:
- an assessment of driving style, displayed on the screen with a clear and intuitive graphic;
- suggestions for reducing fuel consumption, also displayed on the vehicle cluster.
Additionally, if connected to the IVECONNECT FLEET system, this program allows the fleet manager to remotely assess the performance of each individual driver. The IVECONNECT FLEET allows continuous monitoring of drivers, vehicles and other transport variables. The possible integration of data in the management system of the client also allows for optimising and automating logistics tasks with a significant reduction of costs.
