Prospects for reductions in truck and bus fuel consumption In the UK

The TranThe Transport Research Laboratory has performed a review for the UK Department of Transport on the prospects for improvements in truck and bus fuel consumption. The study covered a diverse range of subject areas including engine and vehicle design, road texture, telematics, operational logistics and driver psychology. This paper is a brief summary of this review. There is potential to reduce fuel consumption in many technological and operational areas of truck and bus use; however, the potential gains are often limited by practical and economic criteria. Integrated transport systems have greater potential to reduce fuel consumption than pure road-based strategies; however, their benefits, particularly over relatively short journeys, will also be limited unless more innovative methods of combining the flexibility and convenience of road transport with the environmental advantages of non-road-based methods of transport can be found. A combined fiscal and semi-regulatory strategy would have potential to reduce operating fuel consumption and reduce the rate of increase in the total fuel used for trucks and buses in the UK; these measures would entail increases in fuel taxation, a published database of official bus and truck fuel consumption figures; and the introduction of vehicle- rather than engine-based emission limits.sport Research Laboratory has performed a review for the UK Department of Transport on the prospects for improvements in truck and bus fuel consumption. The study covered a diverse range of subject areas including engine and vehicle design, road texture, telematics, operational logistics and driver psychology. This paper is a brief summary of this review. There is potential to reduce fuel consumption in many technological and operational areas of truck and bus use; however, the potential gains are often limited by practical and economic criteria. Integrated transport systems have greater potential to reduce fuel consumption than pure road-based strategies; however, their benefits, particularly over relatively short journeys, will also be limited unless more innovative methods of combining the flexibility and convenience of road transport with the environmental advantages of non-road-based methods of transport can be found. A combined fiscal and semi -regulatory strategy would have potential to reduce operating fuel consumption and reduce the rate of increase in the total fuel used for trucks and buses in the UK; these measures would entail increases in fuel taxation, a published database of official bus and truck fuel consumption figures; and the introduction of vehicle- rather than engine-based emission limits.