In the future it will become increasingly important to combine economy and ecology. At Mercedes-Benz, we've already started to do just that: with BlueTecEco. Under this name, we have brought together a range of products and services which reduce your fuel consumption and consequently can help to preserve the environment. By using vehicle technology that makes our trucks very efficient. And by giving seminars, training courses and advice that are good for both the environment and your balance sheet. In fact, we're doing our utmost to deliver efficiency and sustainability.
Actros
BlueTecEco
When building trucks, you have to consider much more than just the truck itself.
Save fuel. Protect the environment.
With BlueTecEco, every route is a cost-saving one.
Vehicle technology is responsible for less than 60 % of consumption. The rest is determined by factors such as driving style, weather, traffic conditions and topography. These are the findings from an attempt to break the fuel economy record in an Actros1, carried out under ideal conditions at the proving ground in Nardo, Italy. The production vehicle, carrying a 25-tonne payload and equipped with BlueTec® 5, Mercedes PowerShift 2, super-wide tyres on the drive axle and aerodynamic trim on both tractor unit and semitrailer, sailed into the Guinness Book of Records2 with a fuel consumption of just 19.44 litres per 100 km.
The record-breaking drive at Nardo illustrates just how much potential for savings the Actros offers when influential factors such as driving style and practical knowledge are taken into account.
Greater efficiency in your fleet.
More and more haulage companies are realising that if you want to keep up with the competition, you need to put the environment and fuel consumption at the top of your agenda. Because fuel, and how efficiently it is used, has a major impact on the profitability of your company. As a result, we at Mercedes-Benz are working hard to optimise our trucks. And on implementing fuel-reducing solutions – such as our BlueTecEco pack of measures. Alongside providing efficient vehicle solutions for every application, we are also offering our customers a comprehensive advice and training portfolio – because every litre of fuel saved not only increases the efficiency of your fleet but helps to protect the environment at the same time. BlueTecEco improves your balance sheet in many different ways:
Innovative technical measures, such as the BlueTec® 5 engines, the Mercedes PowerShift automated transmission and optimised aerodynamics ensure further reductions in fuel consumption in the Actros, all while maintaining consistently high transport performance.
By providing training courses, seminars and advice, we can help you to reduce your fuel consumption even further. Because test drives have shown that external factors, such as driving style, traffic conditions, the vehicle configuration, the topography and maintenance, are responsible for 40 % of fuel consumption. Already running for several years now, our BlueTecEco driver training has been showing drivers and haulage companies how to get even more out of every litre of diesel. And the internet-based FleetBoard® telematics system is designed to increase the efficiency of your fleet: driving and consumption analyses help you to exploit the savings potential of your Actros to the full – for greater economy and a better environment. See for yourself just what all our fuel-saving measures combined can achieve.
Saving fuel with our services.
To help you save fuel – and thus take care of the environment – while you're out on the road, we'll use every means it takes, including training courses, seminars, detailed analyses, individual advice and, of course, FleetBoard®, the online fleet management system from Mercedes-Benz.
BlueTecEco driver training.
BlueTecEco driver training has just one aim: to improve drivers' knowledge and technical skills so as to reduce fuel consumption in day-to-day operations. During the BlueTecEco driver training course, we use theory and practice to demonstrate how fuel savings – often of more than 10 % – can be achieved whilst maintaining the same high transport performance and the same average speed.
BlueTecEco analysis.
The BlueTecEco analysis aims to reveal the possible causes of high consumption. To this end, independent, experienced inspectors carry out test drives in vehicles from your fleet and the results form an objective basis for identifying and eliminating possible causes of high fuel consumption.
BlueTecEco advisory service.
The BlueTecEco advisory service is another measure which can help reduce fuel consumption. Whether you require advice on short-radius distribution, long-distance or construction transport, we'll be happy to give you in-depth support. This also includes putting together vehicle configurations which are optimally tailored to your particular haulage work – one of the fundamental requirements when it comes to being economical on the road.
BlueTecEco manager seminar.
The BlueTecEco manager seminar was developed especially for managers and those in charge of fleets. It serves to strengthen your skills and deepen your knowledge of fuel economy. And we also tell you how you can successfully pass on your expertise, so that you can act as a coach for your company's team. We'll support you by providing you with all the latest training documentation and showing you how you can put everything you have learned into practice most effectively.
BlueTecEco talk.
The BlueTecEco talk gives you an overview of all the factors that could help your company to be even more economical in the future. We also present all the other BlueTecEco measures that can increase cost-effectiveness.
Vehicle technologies.
The key to lower fuel consumption.
Advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technology is an essential requirement for economical and environmentally conscious road transport. We use a host of technical measures to ensure further reductions in fuel consumption in the Actros whilst maintaining consistently high transport performance.
Future-proof with BlueTec®.
Economical compliance with Euro V, low fuel consumption and extremely low CO2 emissions are just some of the advantages of BlueTec® 5, the SCR diesel technology from Mercedes-Benz. BlueTec® 5 is also an excellent solution where particulate emissions are concerned. Because no other Euro V technology reduces particulate pollutants so effectively. The Actros can already be optionally configured to meet the even more stringent EEV3 (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle) standard.
Lower particulate emissions than Euro V.
The EEV1 (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicles) emissions standard was introduced back in 2000 and has similar strict limits to Euro V. However the particulate limits are around 33 % lower than the specified limits in the Euro standard, making it currently the most challenging European emissions directive for commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks.
Though the EEV emissions standard is not a legal requirement, there are national incentive schemes in place to encourage compliance. For all those for whom Euro V is not enough, the Actros3 also comes with the option of engines that meet the strict EEV emissions standard.
Mercedes PowerShift 2 for low fuel consumption.
The logical advancement of the Telligent® automatic transmission, the Mercedes PowerShift 2 offers everything that operators and drivers expect from a state-of-the-art gearshift: superb economy and first-class handling.
In automatic mode, Mercedes PowerShift 2 ensures that the optimum gear for fuel economy is selected for all driving situations at all times. The automated transmission is available with 12 or 16 gears4 – providing scope for the best possible, task-oriented drive configurations in any output class. Further additional programs make the driver's everyday working life even easier.
Economy Packs for even more economy.
The Economy Packs available ex works are another way of achieving noticeable fuel savings. Regardless of whether you opt for the Eco Pack Basic, Classic, Top or Plus – the additional features of these packs will help significantly to reduce the fuel consumption of your Actros. From day one and throughout the vehicle's entire useful life. This is achieved through optimum bundling of fuel-saving equipment features such as aerodynamic side panelling and adjustable air deflectors.
Economy Packs for the Actros at a glance.
Economy Pack Basic.
For semitrailer tractors: aerodynamic side panelling, automatic cutouts, adjustable air deflectors with or without cab side deflectors, low-maintenance compact fifth-wheel coupling or alternative, pre-installation for FleetBoard® and KOM communication interface or COTEL standardised telematics interface.
For rigids: additional air tank, aluminium compressed-air tank, automatic cutouts and adjustable air deflectors with or without cab side deflectors, pre-installation for FleetBoard® and KOM communication interface or COTEL standardised telematics interface.
Economy Pack Classic.
For semitrailer tractors: same as Economy Pack Basic plus power-optimised Voith retarder.
For rigids: same as Economy Pack Basic plus power-optimised Voith retarder.
Economy Pack Top.
For semitrailer tractors: same as Economy Pack Classic plus FleetBoard® vehicle computer.
For rigids: same as Economy Pack Classic plus FleetBoard® vehicle computer.
Economy Pack Plus.
The Economy Pack Plus is available only for Actros 4x2 semitrailer tractors with 3600 mm wheelbase. Aerodynamic side panelling, automatic cutouts, adjustable air deflectors with cab side deflectors, low-maintenance compact fifth-wheel coupling or alternative, pre-installation for FleetBoard®, KOM communication interface, aerodynamic A-pillar panelling, aluminium rims for super-wide tyres and FleetBoard® vehicle computer.
Important details, no trivia.
Alongside pioneering developments such as BlueTec®, it's often the technical details that decide whether a truck is fuel-efficient and consequently environmentally friendly. Developments such as the aerodynamically optimised A-pillar5, the optimised compressed-air control system6 and the electronic, two-stage regulated water pump7 also help to reduce fuel consumption in the Actros. Optional super-wide tyres for the drive axle help to reduce consumption even further. And because tyres can significantly influence fuel consumption, we are working with Michelin to optimise tyre efficiency.
Fleetboard for modern vehicle management.
Fleetboard8, the telematics solution from Mercedes-Benz, offers a host of possibilities for improving vehicle and transport management efficiency and can play a significant role in reducing fuel consumption. For instance, Fleetboard can be used to carry out usage and fuel consumption analyses. Fleetboard also enables different types of routes and applications to be compared in terms of fuel consumption and severity of conditions by using specific performance indicators. This provides an objective view of which drivers already have a fuel-saving driving style and which drivers would perhaps benefit from further training in order to become more efficient. As a result, the Fleetboard driving analysis feature provides an excellent basis for an objective performance-related bonus scheme for salaries, giving every driver the opportunity to improve their driving style.
[1] Actros 1844, 320 kW.
[2] "the most fuel efficient 40-tonne truck", Guinness World Records 2009.
[3] Actros models with outputs of 235 to 335 kW and standard silencer.
[4] We only recommend 16 gears if the truck is being used in extremely tough conditions in terms of topography and load.
[5] Optional for Actros.
[6] Only for Actros 4x2 semitrailer tractors.
[7] Only for Actros 320 kW in conjunction with L and MegaSpace cab. Standard for all Actros models with V6 engines.
[8] From Daimler Fleetboard GmbH.
