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Road test
manufacturers nally came up with something smarter than the average truck driver.
PCC became a reality six years ago with systems from Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo. MAN’s version is Ef cientCruise of cially launched at IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in 2014 and it went to market in the UK the following year. Like its competitors, MAN Ef cientCruise uses GPS to assess roads up to 3km ahead. The engine management system adjusts speed and selects the right gear to achieve optimum fuel economy in relation to the topography.
It stops any unnecessary changes down
the box – a common occurrence with cruise control – and it uses an underrun speed threshold to allow the truck to coast, or roll, over a hill and then use gravity to regain road speed.
New generation
In 2016 Ef cientCruise was revamped
and became Ef cientCruise 2, which incorporated Ef cientRoll. On a downward gradient where the truck can coast Ef cientRoll is activated and automatically shifts transmission to neutral and rpm drops to idle. Momentum is maintained and the vehicle loses speed less quickly than with an engaged gear. There is also a ‘little eco’ and
this occurs when Ef cientCruise 2 comes off the accelerator and is reading the road ahead but remains in gear.
Ef cientCruise 2 can be deployed once the driver reaches 60km/h, or 37mph, and the driver has a choice of four settings. For Level 1 the overrun is +5km/h before the engine brake or secondary braking is deployed
and the underrun is -3km/h, at Level 2 its +6km/h and -5km/h, Level 3 is plus and minus 7km/h, while Level 4 is plus and minus 9km/h. The maximum setting, claim MAN, delivers up to 9% fuel saving.
For the moment Ef cientCruise 2 remains an option and costs £1,850. Take up has been encouraging, last year 43% of all TGS
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