Capital Equipment News June 2018

HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

in the wind tunnel, the truck comes with the most aerodynamic shape ever and a completely new cabin called the “StreamSpace”, which is standard on all long-haul truck tractors. “The windscreen has been further inclined to reduce aerodynamic drag. Roof and side deflectors guide and aid the flow of air over the cabin and trailer and thus ensure a smoother transition zone, reducing wind turbulence and aerodynamic drag,” explains Dietz. In a similar way, the side door extensions and air-horns under the cab are all precisely measured to reduce aerodynamic drag and turbulence. Another enhancement in the quest for aerodynamic optimisation is that StreamSpace cabs have no sun visor. This has been achieved without compromising the driver’s comfort by fitting all StreamSpace cabs with a dark tinted green sun filter band, which minimises sun glare. With both costs and uptime in mind, service intervals have been extended, leading to lower maintenance costs and less downtime related to maintenance. “Service intervals have been increased to 80 000 km on the Euro V, up from 50 000 km on the previous range, resulting in a further 6% reduction in maintenance costs. On the Euro III, we will stick to the 50 000 km service intervals,” explains Hafkamp. Safety matters There is a greater focus on safety on the new Actros, which also influences uptime. The new Actros comes with five safety assistance systems, and Hafkamp says these will come very handy, especially in the local environment where 14 000 people die every year on South African roads. The new safety systems comprise the Active Brake Assist 4, Attention Assist, Seat belt Monitor, Roll Control Assist and Proximity Control Assist. Of interest is the Active Brake Assist 4, which Dietz says is the next step from Mercedes-Benz’s tried and tested Active Brake Assist 3, and comes standard on all Fuel Specification models. With the new Active Brake Assist 4, accidents can be avoided at a speed of 80 km/h. “The Active Brake Assist 4 system – with Proximity Control Assist – initiates emergency braking if there is a risk of a collision. It is the world’s first emergency brake assistance system in the transport sector which can also detect moving pedestrians,” says Dietz. The outstanding feature of Active Brake Assist 4 is that it warns the driver of imminent collisions with pedestrians and automatically

Attention Assist alerts drivers when they begin showing signs of fatigue behind the wheel.

Lost revenue 3%

Finance 18%

Depreciation 12%

Maintenance 5%

Fuel 62%

Based on a truck tractor 6x4

III, compared with the predecessor. In the testing done in South Africa across different road profiles, a 6% fuel saving was achieved on the Euro V version. Hafkamp reasons that a 6% saving on fuel, based on current diesel prices, equates to a R11 520 saving over a 12-month period, which is equivalent to R270 000 worth of fuel savings over a four-year period. “We are bringing the Euro V to South Africa, and we are confident that the country is ready for it,” says Hafkamp. Combined with the new Powershift 3 gearbox, which is 100% made by Mercedes-Benz, this ensures best integration with engine and axles. “A key factor in efficiency is the fact that the drivetrain is from a single source. The engines, transmissions and axles are all

designed and manufactured by Mercedes- Benz, ensuring that components in the drivetrain are perfectly matched to each other,” says Dietz. The Mercedes full automatic 12-speed Powershift 3 transmission comes as standard, and is said to offer a best shifting strategy and faster shifting times than the predecessor. Mercedes PowerShift 3’s automatic choice includes a manoeuvring mode, automatic holding of gears downhill, rocking mode to free a stuck truck, EcoRoll to save fuel when heading downhill, and the choice of switching between three normal driving modes on every truck – even on the move. The third leg of efficiency is from the aerodynamic shape of the truck, which has been optimised in every single detail. Having been extensively tested

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JUNE 2018 18