DHL trials driveline efficiency technology

Published: February 01, 2012

Since March 2010, DHL Supply Chain has supplied in-flight catering for around 200 British Airways flights per day, with 38 trucks shuttling back and forth, 18 to 20 hours a day, 365 days per year between DHL’s Flight Assembly Centre and Heathrow terminals 3 and 5, some three miles away.

Six months into the contract, DHL Supply Chain’s Engineering team ran a Safety and Performance improvement workshop, resulting in a trial of RELS (Reduced Engine Loading at Stop) driveline efficiency technology.

“DHL carries out regular reviews of its operations to reduce its carbon footprint, analysing telematics and fuel efficiency data, and sharing the results with its stakeholders,” explains Martin Bryce, engineering manager for DHL Supply Chain, UK and Ireland. “Following one workshop we agreed to trial RELS and the results have been impressive, delivering an 8.6 percent improvement in fuel economy and reducing the total cost of ownership of the entire fleet.”

Designed to save fuel and cut overall vehicle emissions, RELS automatically reduces the load on the engine when the vehicle is at a full stop, making it particularly effective in city traffic and airport operations where support vehicles require a slow, smooth approach to the plane. Since an initial trial at DHL’s training facility using a mock aircraft, all 40 of DHL’s vehicles have been retrofitted with RELS.

“RELS is just one of the driveline optimisation features that truck and bus operators can call upon to reduce their environmental impact,” explains Ashley Brookes, applications engineer, UK, of Allison Transmission. “Over the years we have built a wealth of knowledge about different vehicle emission profiles and are actively helping fleets all over the world find the right balance between efficiency and performance – by individual vehicle and route if that is what it takes.”