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IAA REVIEW
Effifuel from Michelin Solutions Delivers Fuel Savings
For the first time, a subsidiary of a major tyre manufacturer is moving beyond pure tyre sales to address the issue of fuel savings with a performance promise backed by a money-back guarantee. In a time of recession, innovation is more important than ever, and innovation is what Michelin’s Effifuel subsidiary is all about. Since the 2008 economic and financial crisis, truckers have been operating with extremely small margins, sometimes less than 2%. Orders are both irregular and difficult to forecast, making for a situation of instability. At the same time, fuel costs are becoming an increasingly heavy burden. In some countries, fuel is now the
Europe and 40% in Eastern Europe). Fleet managers handle the company’s trucks, while operations managers supervise the drivers and business operations. All of these players are faced with resolving the complex issue of fuel consumption, which involves monitoring a large number of parameters, from vehicle technologies, new powertrains and loads to weather conditions, lubricants, tires, fuel, aerodynamics, driving style and routes. They must also gauge parameter visibility, measure results and develop action plans. Taken together, this adds up to a major company project. Clearly, taking advantage of Michelin Solutions’ expertise,
customers recorded fuel savings of 1.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
Effifuel Step by Step
The process begins with a fleet audit. A Michelin Solutions fuel analyst travels to the site to collect data and talk with operators about the way the fleet is used, fuel consumption, vehicle types and uses, driving habits and equipment. The goal is to establish a baseline of the fleet’s fuel consumption and an initial estimate of the potential fuel savings (for example, an average 33.2 litres per 100 km and potential savings of 1.9 l/100 km).
Once the audit is completed, a presentation is made to the fleet managers outlining the potential savings and cost impact, Michelin Solutions' commitment in terms of litres per 100 kilometres, the proposed structure and the action plan of specific measures to be taken. With the fleet’s agreement, the teams then move on to step two.
At this point, the proposed action plan is applied to a sample group of vehicles. The vehicles’ equipment is reviewed, Effifuel telematics units are installed, drivers are trained in ecodriving techniques and specific management and reporting tools are deployed for an application in real conditions that offers an opportunity to refine and confirm the audit’s proposals. If the customer is satisfied, Michelin Solutions progresses to the next step by equipping all the targeted vehicles and training all the fleet’s drivers in eco-driving techniques.
Customer benefits are as follows: Thanks to Michelin
Solutions, the fleet manager, operations manager and executive management team carr y out their company project with a minimum amount of risk since the expenses incurred are reimbursed if the fleet does not achieve the promised results. This fuel savings solution offers peace of mind and lets trucking companies focus on their core business.
The customer also has access to the necessar y management tools to execute the action plan, resources to assess driving quality, precise tracking of fuel performance, personalised support from fuel analysts, the professionalism of Michelin Solutions and the guarantee of using the most effective technologies available.
The fleet’s changing profile is also taken into account; new vehicles are brought into the system and
new drivers are trained. Michelin Solutions and its ecosystem of experts integrate all parameters, from maintenance to tracking to electronic connections. In addition, all drivers are trained in Effifuel eco-driving techniques, for more than 300 hours of training provided by the network of facilitators.
All vehicles are equipped with an Effifuel telematics unit, which collects and processes data concerning the vehicle, type of driving, and conditions related to fuel consumption. A dedicated fuel analyst processes, analyses and tracks the data and provides weekly feedback and advice including 12 monthly reports and four quarterly reports.
Franck Estoquié of Michelin Solutions explains the Effifuel Concept
biggest expense for trucking companies, ahead of wages. In Poland, for example, fuel costs can account for 40% of total operating expenses, while in France, they can represent nearly a third (29%, to be precise).
The challenge for truckers is to reduce their operating costs while continuing to deliver quality service to their customers. That’s quite a balancing act, especially since European regulations also create constraints that must be taken into account. In particular, truckers have to comply with increasingly stringent standards concerning CO2 emissions. Effifuel is targeted to fleet managers, operations managers and trucking company executives interested in cutting back on their biggest expense item: fuel (30% in Western
with the Effifuel guarantee, is a pathway to progress.
Michelin Solutions makes a long-term commitment and says it is already in a position to deliver fuel savings of 1.5 litres per 100 kilometers for each truck in the fleet.
Since it was launched in the summer of 2013, Effifuel has attracted several dozen customers in nine European countries (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom). The fleets involved range in size from 50 to several hundred vehicles and cover a broad array of activities and vehicle types, from regional and long-haul trucking to hazardous liquid tankers, refrigerated trucks, car carriers and trucks that haul food products. According to Michelin, in one year, Effifuel
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