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VOLVO TRUCKS Great Britain & Ireland
Every Drop Counts

Every drop counts

Achieving optimum fuel economy is often the sum of small gains and improvements added together. Although it is possible, given the right circumstances, to make significant improvements in one go, it is usually the case that a series of small gains, often representing fractions of a percentage improvement, will add up to form a noticeable reduction in fuel usage.

Paying attention to the detail of how an operator specifies, maintains and uses their vehicles is as integral and important part of Volvo Trucks philosophy as looking at driving techniques. What's more, we are constantly looking for new ways to help operators reduce their fuel usage and indeed the impact their vehicles have on the environment. It's a down-to-earth approach that's made us the class leader in helping operators make savings on their fuel bills. It's a bold claim, but we believe that, with our 11, 13 and 16 litre diesel engines and the latest I-shift transmission, we have the most efficient drive-line in the transport industry. 

The continuing development of our fuel efficient driveline ensures that we remain focused on our goal of reducing fuel consumption by one percent each year. It might not sound much, but we believe that it is a realistic commitment that we will continue to achieve as one of our long term objectives to help operators improve fuel usage. Available resources are being channeled into improving the fuel efficiency of our diesel powered trucks and also  developing engines suitable for operation using alternative fuels. Some of the results of our alternative fuel development programme are gradually starting to appear. 

As a direct result of care for the environment being one of Volvo Trucks core values, we have reduced both fuel consumption and C02 emissions by 20 percent over the past 20 years.

The good news is that these new types of alternative fuel trucks will be appearing on the roads in the not too distant future. Furthermore, over the last two decades or so, we've proven that what is good for the environment is also good for the business interests of transport operators. Take the cost of fuel. If, as is likely at the moment, it represents between 30 and 40% (or even more nowadays) of your operating cost base, then a small reduction in consumption will undoubtedly improve your bottom line.
every drop counts
                              every drop counts

Using driving techniques that improve fuel consumption also results in vehicles having less impact on the environment  as well as potentially reducing operating costs in terms of unscheduled maintenance and repairs. That uptime can be optimised and even improved by using driving techniques that deliver improved fuel economy is an established fact.

Volvo Trucks relentless focus on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates from our diesel engines is incontrovertibly good for our customers, their customers and the drivers of our vehicles. Over the next 10 years we aim to reduce fuel consumption by another 10 percent. This will be achieved by making small but significant  improvements to driveline efficiency and also occasionally with something completely new, like our methane-diesel technology or perhaps DME. We'll carry on working away like this for as long as it takes to achieve sustainable levels of emissions, carbon neutral transport and independence from fossil fuels.

Even then, every drop will count.