Case Studies

• Greenlane Fuelsaver.

  Greenlane Fuelsaving Solutions.

   

  Introduction

  Padern Cars is a 10 vehicle taxi family run business based in Aberystwyth. Their customers are a mix of local people and national businesses (Orange Mobile) including a significant contract with the NHS and local schools.

  Their fleet consists of modern Ford Galaxys, Vauxhall Astras with some Ford Connect vans which were selected as being economical and reliable vehicles whilst fulfilling their taxi role.

  They are on call 24 hours a day for the NHS contract and so vehicle availability is an important issue.

  Business Issues

  The rising cost of fuel is affecting every business in Wales but when the whole business is about travel it becomes of paramount importance in the same way a delivery or Haulage Company would be affected. 

  A secondary cause of fuel use is driving style. It’s true to say that no driver likes to have their competency criticised and so any proposed changes have to be introduced in a sensitive but effective manner. The objective would be to achieve a long term and permanent change in driving style.

  Options

  Padern Cars asked a local expert business to advise them in their research for a solution. Sam Browne of Plant-i suggested as a first step that they may consider vehicle tracking. This would enable the business to monitor the use of vehicles, distance travelled, engine idle and speeds. As Plant-i were are to demonstrate that their existing customers had achieved worthwhile cost saving in terms of fuel used and in addition had been able to do more work with the same vehicles thus achieving a double benefit to the profitability of the business.

  Sam Browne also suggested that the business would see further major benefits in fuel saving, carbon reduction and maintenance costs with the installation of “Greenlane Fuelsaver” technology.

  Greenlane Fuelsaver reprogrammed the vehicle’s engine management to shift the power curve and encourage a different driving style. This style is more relaxed resulting lower speeds, less wear and tear on the vehicles and up to 20% reduction in accidents. (From a recent customer case study)

   

  Results

  Padern Cars decided to start with the vehicle tracking as they understood that it would give them a significant business advantage in knowing where their vehicles were in real time. This gave better customer service and they have been able to measure an increase in the utilisation of the vehicles and their earnings. Through close management of the vehicles and controlling engine idle times and vehicle speeds the business also saw a 7% reduction in their monthly fuel bills.

  After this success Padern Cars were confident in the advice given by Sam Browne and so went ahead with the installation of “Greenlane Fuelsaver” in a Ford Galaxy diesel. The installation was carried out by Sam Browne and as this was the first of Padarns vehicles to be modified, Plant i used the services of a Rolling Road to measure and record the ‘before’ and ‘after’ emissions and consumption of the vehicle.

   

  RESULTS OF ROLLING ROAD TESTING (SUMMARY)	Fuel Consumption	CO Output	CO2 Output	NoX Output
  Before installation of “Greenlane Fuelsaver”	31.8 mpg	0.18	11.7	146
  After installation of “Greenlane Fuelsaver”	35.3 mpg	0.12	10.9	129
  Average Reduction	11.1%	36%	9%	16%
  Combined Fuelsaver/Tracking saving	18.1%

   

  Conclusion

  As can be seen from the above table of results there is a significant reduction in all polluting emissions from the vehicle and a major saving in fuel used of over 11%. Added to the 7% already saved using the tracking system this totals nearly 20% reduction is direct costs to the business.

  The Return on Investment (ROI) for Padern Cars in less than 1 month.

  This is regardless of the drivers quality of driving as it does not allow the driver to drive inefficiently. In the case of Padarn they already had well trained drivers who drive efficiently; a company who has less well trained drivers would see greater reductions in Fuel and emissions. Plant I would also offer as part of the Greenlane Fuelsaver solution driver training where needed. This was not needed in this case.

   

  John Jones, the business owner says of this achievement

  
  “As a business we always invest in new technology and strive to keep ahead of our competitors. Greenlane Fuelsaver and Plant-i have given us a solution resulting in a major competitive advantage and helping to secure of future whilst helping us reduce our CO2 emissions, we will use this in our company environmental policy and include this in future tendering.”

   Case study pdf

   

  Greenlane Fuelsaver – Gas Emissions Test Cycle
  CV58 SPX PADARN GALAXY 2.0 TDCi
  Test 1		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Vehicle @ Idle 4 Minutes
  	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.16	3.8	18.45	144
  	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.08	2	16.5	102
  	Percentage change	50%	47%	11%	29%
  Test 2		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Gear 1
  Speed 10 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.24	5.1	14.6	52
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.13	5	14.7	43
  	Percentage change	46%	2%	-1%	17%
  Test 3		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Gear 2
  Speed 20 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.18	6.6	12.7	30
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.11	6.5	13	27
  	Percentage change	39%	2%	-2%	10%
  Test 4		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Gear 3
  Speed 30 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.17	8.2	10.5	27
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.13	8	10.7	25
  	Percentage change	24%	2%	-2%	7%
  Test 5		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Gear 4
  Speed 45 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.17	10.1	7.7	55
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.14	9.9	7.8	47
  	Percentage change	18%	2%	-1%	15%
  Test 6		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Top Gear
  Speed 56 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.18	11.7	6.3	146
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.12	10.9	5.1	129
  	Percentage change	33%	7%	19%	12%
  Test 7		%CO	%CO2	%O2	Nox
  Top Gear
  Speed 70 MPH	ORIGINAL VEHICLE SETTINGS	0.18	10.7	7.1	196
  2 Minutes	FUELSAVER SETTINGS	0.1	10.5	6.6	155
  	Percentage change	44%	2%	7%	21%
  Overall Averages		36%	9%	4%	16%

   

  SPONSORED BY: Low Carbon Futures Project

• Shropshire County Council

  Case Study. 

  “We have been impressed at how Plant i have understood our business and tailored their system to meet our GPS requirements”.
  Darren Merrill

  Asset Planning Manager 
  Shropshire County Council

• Enterprise

  

  Plant i have tailored the system to our needs and on time - In my opinion they provide the best mix of excellent local on the ground support and technical know how”

  Len Schwartz - Divisional Manager Accord Plc 

    

• Dyfed Powys Police use GPS tracking

  Plant i have been working with Local Police Forces on Covert Tracking for the last 3 years. This has proved very successful by both releasing resource and giving the public peace of mind that if any equipment is stolen we are able to Track and recover it. Using Plant I engineers we are able to engineer bespoke solutions.

   Plant i provide us with the technology and support to catch criminals red handed, over the years they have given us excellent support and service.

  Sgt Kelvin Briggs, Dyfed-Powys Police   

   

  Read more

Testimonial

John Jones, Padarn Cars “As a business we always invest in new technology and strive to keep ahead of our competitors. Greenlane Fuelsaver and Plant-i have given us a solution resulting in a major competitive advantage and helping to secure of future whilst helping us reduce our CO2 emissions, we will use this in our company environmental policy and include this in future tendering.”

John Jones