Stop! And save 5% – or more – on fuel

In private cars, it has become more and more common lately – the clever function that stops the car engine as the car stops at, for example, a stop light. Yes, we are of course talking about the Start/Stop function. But the novelty is that Volvo Penta now introduces Start/Stop functionality for industrial engines – and helps operators reduce fuel with up to an impressive 5% – or more.

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Fuel consumption is by far the biggest cost for operators of industrial equipment in areas such as material handling, construction and mining. When fuel can represent up to 90% of the life-time operating costs for any application, a cost reduction of up to five-percent is extremely valuable.

Automatic stop – and start

The automatic Start/Stop function works in the same manner as in a private car. When the machine’s engine is idling, the engine is turned off after a pre-set time span – usually 5–10 seconds. And, when the driver activates any of the machine’s controls, the engine starts immediately and the work can continue.

The automatic Start/Stop function is an optional accessory. In operation, it can of course be deactivated/reactivated when needed.

A win-win feature

The Start/Stop function has two winners. The gain for the owner/operator is improved fuel efficiency with – in certain cases – significantly reduced fuel costs. And the more a machine is idling, the bigger the savings.

The other winner is of course the environment. Lowered fuel consumption naturally leads to reduced emissions to the surrounding air. And since a stopped engine is a quiet engine, it also means reduced noise levels which benefit the surroundings and all the people working at the site.

Fuel efficient equals cost efficient

Developing new and better way of improving engine fuel-efficiency is a long-term objective for Volvo Penta. The automatic Start/Stop function is yet another step in this direction. The knowledgeable operator of industrial off-road installations knows that the only adequate measurement of an engine’s quality is the total cost of ownership.

That means taking a comprehensive view on all costs for every engine alternative – purchase cost, service costs, downtime costs, fuel cost, etc. And the one that comes out as no. 1 at the bottom line is the “winner”. It’s as simple as that.

For further information, please contact Åke Edman, AB Volvo Penta,
phone: +46 (0) 31 322 51 90, e-mail: ake.edman@volvo.com