European Road Trains - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

fud2468 · 11-09-2009, 02:11 PM

Today's BBC news has an article about testing to be done by the EU on road trains. Up to 8 specially-equipped vehicles would be led by a pro driver who would control everything while drivers in the trailing vehicles could ride hands-free. Up to 20% in fuel savings is projected.
Ray Mac.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8349923.stm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpv9YJ4OvkE

Frank Lee · 11-09-2009, 08:43 PM

Coming soon to a congested big-brother controlled utopia near you!

There's just something about someone/thing else controlling the car I'm in while they aren't that rubs me wrong...

gone-ot · 11-09-2009, 09:21 PM

..."follow the leader" whether you want to or not?!?!

ldjessee00 · 11-09-2009, 09:35 PM

I thought that is what track-trains were for?
Why have them on the highways? 8 for the # of cars seems inefficient compared to a rail train that could have many more.

fud2468 · 11-09-2009, 11:43 PM

Well I never said I thought it was a good idea--was just passing along what I read, I thought it had relevance to ecomodding.
Ray Mac

Frank Lee · 11-10-2009, 12:36 AM

Well you're right, it does, the trains help fe.

I just think it's a sad commentary on (congested) modern life, and driver's abilities.

RobertSmalls · 11-10-2009, 11:03 AM

Once driverless cars catch on, I expect this sort of thing to be commonplace on the highway. Assuming driverless cars can communicate their intentions to each other and react almost immediately, you should be able to have packets of driverless cars drafting each other at a following distance of 250ms.

Considering we have automated parallel parking systems already, how long before we have big rigs that can say to the car(s) in their slipstream, "Hey, I'm about to brake!"

JasonG · 11-10-2009, 08:57 PM

On a trip from NC to Houston TX my dad was driving a truck and a 35' Rv. I was following in a Saturn SL 4cyl man trans. I knew I could brake faster than him. Lets say I drove real close to the back of the trailer most of the way. To the point where he couldn't see me in the mirrors. Not only did it stabilize his trailer and up his MPG but the Saturn avg 49MPG on the trip. We used our CB's to communicate fuel stops, well his at least !!

bestclimb · 11-11-2009, 03:52 AM

Will I be able to give it the three fingered salute and get control of my car back when it hangs up?

basjoos · 11-11-2009, 07:36 AM

I'd be concerned about the increased accident potential of having a string of cars whose drivers are busy texting, reading the newspaper, napping, etc. and not paying attention to the road. Then if another car drifts into their lane, they wouldn't be paying enough attention to try to dodge it. Also a road train hitting a patch of black ice ought to prove interesting or when driving in heavy rain where the heavy lead truck has no problems, but the car further back in line with worn out tires starts hydroplaning. A deer slamming into the 2nd vehicle in line...I can envison all sort of traffic/weather scenarios where the road train could quickly turn into a multicar collision.