Sistema para la reducción de costes operativos en una flota de autobuses urbanos a través de la aplicación de técnicas de conducción eficiente

DEVELOPMENT OF A TOOL FOR OPERATING COST REDUCTION. APPLICATION TO THE CASE OF A FLEET OF URBAN BUSES APPLAYING EFFICIENT DRIVING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

One of the biggest operating costs in a road transport company is the fuel. Fuel consumption

accounts for a significant percentage of

spending and the change in its price tends to

force immediate changes in rates to maintain

profitability. This paper presents a method

for reducing fuel consumption through the

implementation of a system to support fuel

efficient driving. The system consists of a

number of technical tools and seminars with

experts who promote a learning process that

is maintained over time. Technical tools are

composed of an on-board system that generates

indications in order to induce the driver to

efficient driving and a web platform that allows

to check routes and a series of indicators

to analyse driving afterwards. Seminars and

meetings with experts seek to give guidance and

advice to strengthen the role of technical tools.

The cost of implementing the system is very

small making it easy finance through reduced

consumption that can reach values higher than

10%. The system has been successfully tested in

the Urban Transport Company of Gijón (EMTUSA)

and achieved a reduction in consumption of 7

% in an urban environment while drivers have

received training and performance reports. Then,

an important reduction in the improvement has

been shown when workers have not received

feedback any more.