MAN Group

Politics Newsletter

Issue 1 – March 2016

ENERGYMOBILITY

Boosting efficiency by working together: truck platoon testing

Digitisation and networking enable trucks to be driven safely behind one another at shorter distances apart, thus saving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. MAN is therefore taking part in the platooning project of the Nether-lands EU Council Presidency.

Automated and connected driving is one of the focal points of the Netherlands EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2016, with the Dutch government currently planning the ʻEuropean Truck Platooning Challenge 2016ʼ. At the start of April, innova-tive vehicle concepts such as truck platoons will be involved in making the international journey to Rotterdam on public roads. As part of an official closing event on 6 April, the potential of automated and connected driving for the efficiency of future

goods transport will be revealed. National transport ministries and the European commercial vehicle industry are working hand in hand to make the project happen.

As a partner of the project, MAN Truck & Bus will be taking part in the journey from Munich to Rotterdam with vehicles travelling at reduced distances apart. The platoon, consist-ing of two trucks, will use car-to-car communication and the corresponding on-board sensor technology.

Only with the corresponding legal framework conditions will it be possible for the commercial vehicle industry to reduce CO² emissions and improve road safety in the long term. It is essential that all parties involved from business and politics show a long-term political desire to implement this type of innovative vehicle concept in international transport.

1 – Transport Policy 2 – Transport Policy | Climate 3 – Safety | Safety 4 – Climate

Transport Policy

Lower fuel consumption and CO² emissions thanks to platooning

Truck platoons on motorways? What may not have seemed like a worthwhile concept up until now could in fact turn out to be an important step towards solving our transport and environmental problems. When trucks are driven in convoy at shorter distances apart, it not only saves space on the road – it is also possible to reduce fuel consumption by up to ten per cent by taking advantage of aerodynamics!

The forecast for goods transport is clear to see: in future even more goods are set to be transported by sea, air, rail and road. Roads will bear the brunt of this – a huge problem when you consider that the infrastructure is already overloaded.

Truck platoons could provide the solution: two to three trucks that use modern technology to drive behind one another

Climate

At present, trucks on Europe‘s motorways drive at a legally stipulated distance of 50 metres apart. However, this could change in the coming years. Equipping vehicles with cameras and distance sensors such as radar, as well as the increasing networking of vehicles with the infrastructure and other road

Truck platoons as an opportunity

Transport Policy

MAN Group – Politics Newsletter – Issue 2 – March 2016

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is the basic prerequisite for platooning, as it enables essential driving functions to be exchanged instantaneously between trucks. The secu-rity of data and the safety of the heavy-duty vehicles are of paramount importance here.

Data security in vehicle technology

Platoon journeys with a reduced minimum gap of less than one second apart require secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Key driving functions such as accelerating and braking torques are transferred instantaneously from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind. When supported by further sensors, this ena-bles synchronous slipstreaming for both vehicles with a positive impact on fuel efficiency.

For this, the vehicle communication uses a standard devel-oped in the Car-2-Car Communication Consortium for auto-motive WLAN (ITS-G5). This technology features instantaneous and direct communication, thus fulfilling the requirement for net-worked vehicles, for example those in platoons. Data security, data protection and the knowledge that only authorised partners can communicate represent crucial security criteria of this com-munication standard. This wireless network communication has already been tested in numerous research projects within the automotive industry.

Due to the technological complexity of platoon systems, the safety of vehicles is of particular importance. The vehicle networking has therefore been designed such that safety-critical functions are safeguarded as effectively as possible using the latest technology. This has been tested through a diverse range of safety tests during the development phase. The driver is thus notified of any irregularities relating to the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, networked platooning is immediately suspen-ded, the connection between the trucks is interrupted and the vehicles continue individually at the minimum legally prescribed distance apart.

Safety

Current communication and sensor technology enables vehicles to drive at shorter distances apart: sensors are quicker than humans at detecting potential obstacles, traffic build-up and the braking behaviour of vehicles in front.

Platooning represents an initial application for partially automated driving. In order to make the most of the benefits of slipstreaming, the safe distance to the vehicle in front is less than a second – the average human reaction time. Platoons must therefore be equipped with the latest sensor and communication technology to enable automated braking and acceleration.

The latest radar, laser and camera sensors, as well as standard assistance systems such as the advanced emergency braking system, Lane Guard System and Adaptive Cruise

Safety first for truck platoons

Safety Control, are essential for the safety of platoons. Furthermore, data including the accelerating and braking torques, as well as the GPS position of vehicles, is constantly exchanged via vehicle communication.

In practice, the platoon is only formed on the motorway following confirmation from both drivers. The longitudinal con-trol of the vehicle behind is activated and slowly reduces the distance to the vehicle in front down to the platooning distance. The two trucks are now synchronised and travel at a defined distance apart, with continuous monitoring of sensor readings and the functioning of the vehicle communication. The platoon journey can be ended at any time by either driver via an un- coupling signal or by taking control of the driving. If possible, in the interests of fuel efficiency, the distance is adjusted to the legally prescribed distance without interventions in the brake system.

users, could make shorter distances possible. The positive effects of this would be increased fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

However, this must not have any impact on the safety of drivers and other road users, the strain on the infra-structure and the protection of vehicle electronics. The fields of industry and politics are hoping that the Truck Platooning Challenge will provide a great deal of insight into the safety and efficiency of platoons.

at shorter distances apart, without hindering passenger vehi-cles and other road users or compromising safety. The shorter distances are made possible through the use of modern assis-tance systems (distance control, adaptive cruise control) and car-to-car communication (ITS-G5) between the vehicles, thus ensuring that trucks do not drive into the vehicle in front.

The technology used here also has positive side effects: drivers no longer need to manually correct the distance to the vehicle in front – the system takes care of this automatically. This means that the trucks do not need to brake and accelerate as much and so they use less diesel. Further fuel savings are also achieved through aerodynamics, with vehicles benefiting from the shorter distance to the vehicle in front. According to a study by TNO, fuel savings of up to ten per cent are possible.

Vehicle Communication via Wlan (ITS G5)Constant exchange of information relating to:- Speed, speeding-up and brake retardation- GPS position- Condition of platoon

Antenna ITS G5

Vehicle leading platoonVehicle following lead vehicle

10 m

Camera

Radar

Lidar (Laser Scanner)Steering system

MAN Group – Politics Newsletter – Issue 2 – March 2016

ContactMAN Truck & Bus AG · Corporate Communications Dachauer Str. 667 · 80995 München Phone: +49 89 1580-2001E-Mail: publicaffairs@man.eu

Publication Details Published by MAN Truck & Bus AGStefan Klatt, Head of Corporate CommunicationsE-Mail: stefan.klatt@man.euEditor: Dr. Kirsten Broecheler

If you wish to receive the Politics Newsletter as a PDF, please e-mail publicaffairs@man.eu.

Industry and politics pulling together for the climate

In the coming months, the EU Commission plans to pres-ent its draft legislation for monitoring the CO² emissions of heavy-duty commercial vehicles. By the end of 2018, it may then be mandatory for manufacturers to state the CO² emissions of initial vehicle types. Industry is also calling for a more comprehensive solution whereby all those involved in the transport process contribute towards climate protection.

In mid-February, representatives from the fields of politics and business, as well as industrial and environmental organisations, met in Brussels to discuss how they could all work together to reduce CO² emissions in road haulage. As early as 2008, truck and bus manufacturers undertook to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in CO² by 2020. This was an ambitious yet feasible target. However, harmful gases could be reduced to an even greater extent if all those involved in the transport process were

to pull together. The solutions relating to vehicle technology alone are among the most costly and time-consuming options for reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Ultimately, this also results in increased transport costs.

There are options to prevent this that can be implement-ed with immediate effect – the (international) use of longer vehicle combinations such as long trucks, driver training with an emphasis on economical driving, and the optimisation of logistics chains and infrastructure in order to avoid an unneces-sary build-up of traffic.

The use of alternative fuels also underpins political and social demands relating to climate policy. It is therefore imperative that the EU member states establish an infrastructure as soon as possible, for example for CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas), as road haulage could eventually become ʻclimate neutralʼ through the addition of gas produced in a renewable way.

MAN Group – Politics Newsletter – Issue 2 – March 2016

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