UD TRUCKS SOUTHERN AFRICA |
With regulations to curb harmful carbon emissions becoming increasingly stringent across the globe, sustainability has become the main focus of the motor industry. And while electric propulsion for heavy commercial vehicles is still in its infancy, truck manufacturers have had to make changes to comply with emissions regulations. Chief amongst the pioneers of change is UD Trucks, who recently invited us to a press briefing, where they laid out their plans for sustainable transport and introduced two trucks that are leading the way.
According to UD Trucks, sustainability is now more critical than ever, and Covid-19 also emphasised a more sustainable approach to driving a post-pandemic recovery. Modern and efficient logistics are vital to keeping the world moving in these fast-evolving times, and so their latest launch is aimed at ensuring greater resilience for businesses while minimising environmental impacts.
The Quester
The Quester heavy-duty truck combines excellent fuel efficiency and durability. Thanks to Euro 5 upgrades, this truck has evolved to meet modern-day environmental challenges in the transport industry. In addition to its new advancements, the Quester also boasts UD Telematics, a high-tech wireless communication system that allows transport companies to maximise efficiency with real-time geofencing and vehicle tracking.
In keeping with the sustainability initiative, the Quester has improved its fuel efficiency by up to 10%, thanks to less tare weight, an ESCOT automated manual transmission, and an optimised driveline. In addition, a new instrument cluster (shared with the Croner) also provides real-time fuel coaching to the driver with instant feedback on fuel-efficient driving techniques.
As a safety measure, the automated ESCOT transmission takes away the driver’s need to shift an average of 1,000 to 1,500 times a day by automatically selecting the required gears, further reducing driving stress by keeping the driver focused on the road ahead.
The Croner
The Croner is a reliable and versatile medium-duty truck designed to make every moment count. The truck boasts a comprehensive and customisable model offering, which can be configured to suit a client’s specific requirements and optimised for better productivity.
Like the Quester, the Croner boasts improved fuel efficiency, thanks to an aerodynamic cab design that results in a 5% reduction in drag compared to the previous models. It is also easier to drive thanks to an Allison automatic transmission and well thought out ergonomics, which boost productivity by reducing driver fatigue.
In addition, the Croner offers improved comfort and convenience for the driver. The spacious cabin was designed with driver comfort in mind and comes equipped with active and passive safety features to keep the driver and the other motorists safe.
Improved Fleet Competitiveness with Euro 5
New environmental regulations require new business strategies. With its Euro 5 upgrades, UD Trucks remain on the front foot with enhanced features that improve uptime, enhance efficiency, and optimise Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while lowering each vehicle’s environmental impact and retaining benefits from previous models.
The new Euro 5 range has been introduced worldwide to other fast-growing and emerging regions that are moving to adopt more stringent international emission standards. Other countries, including South Africa, are already getting this range ahead of these inevitable regulations, giving businesses a head start to run more sustainable fleets.
In a worrying finding by the International Energy Agency (IEA) global energy review 2021, global carbon emissions are projected to grow by 4.8% in the post-pandemic era. There is no overstating the adverse effects of global carbon emissions, making it imperative for businesses to shift towards Euro 5, which reduces NOx emissions by 43% compared to Euro 4, and significantly reduces the vehicle’s carbon footprint through cleaner emissions.
As the first truck manufacturer to introduce Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology in 2004, UD Trucks’ new Euro 5 range features SCR technology to significantly boost environmental protection and fuel economy. SCR technology ensures higher performance through optimised combustion and increased fuel efficiency, which results in lower fuel expenses. An extended AdBlue supply enhances SCR technology and contributes to reducing harmful emissions. With these benefits, SCR technology has proven to be more reliable when compared to other emission control technologies for reducing NOx emissions.
Last Word
With the release of its Euro 5 updates, UD Trucks offers businesses a more sustainable way to conduct business, which gives us hope for a more sustainable future. This latest launch bolsters UD Trucks’ Better Life purpose – to be better for logistics, the planet, people, and business. This philosophy drives the integration of sustainability across all of the company’s operations and processes to realise a lower environmental impact, higher customer satisfaction, higher profitability, and a better place for people to work and live.
Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © UD Trucks Southern Africa
