A computer simulation model was used to estimate the fuel consumption of goods vehicles operating in the uk over four major operating conditions, each represented by a duty cycle. The vehicles chosen for simulation ranged from 2 to 44 tonnes gross vehicle weight and represented vehicles operating in europe. The compilation of data representing light vans, rigid and articulated vehicles (platform and box bodies) was related where possible to trends in vehicle characteristics with increasing gross vehicle weight. The simulation model provided the data for the formation of regression equations relating fuel consumption to gross vehicle weight for each body type and duty cycle. Four vehicles representing the major vehicle classes were chosen to examine the sensitivity of the fuel consumption to changes in the assumptions made. Two additional contributions to fuel consumption considered were the extra fuel used during cold starts and delivery stops. As a check, the equations were used to calculate the fuel used by the uk national goods vehicle fleet; this figure was compared with an estimate based upon tax revenue. (Author/publisher)
Abstract