Vehicle Fuel Quantity Management for Freight Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle fuel management practices, which maximize fuel load, result in decreased freight efficiency due to the weight of fuel limiting the amount of cargo that can be carried, leading to suboptimal freight weight optimization.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for determining the optimal fuel quantity to carry on-board vehicles by integrating operator input, vehicle parameters, and road terrain data to optimize freight weight, utilizing a Cycle Efficiency Management module that provides guidance on vehicle speed and transmission gear selection to improve fuel economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maximum fuel quantity is loaded in vehicle tanks prior to journey, then fuel supply security and risk minimization are improved, but freight weight is reduced due to vehicle weight limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel quantity management system dynamically adjusts fuel loading strategies based on real-time vehicle operating conditions, route characteristics, and forecasted weather patterns. Rather than statically loading maximum fuel, the system continuously optimizes fuel quantity to maintain adequate supply security while minimizing weight penalties to freight capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters including fuel quantity, vehicle speed, and route selection based on varying conditions such as weather forecasts, traffic patterns, and terrain characteristics. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system resolves the contradiction between carrying enough fuel for security and minimizing fuel weight to maximize freight capacity.
2Loss of time
If aggressive driving pattern with rapid speed transitions is used, then trip time is reduced, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessments of route characteristics, weather conditions, and traffic patterns before journey commencement. Based on this advance information, it pre-calculates optimal speed profiles and fuel management strategies that balance trip time reduction with fuel economy maintenance, allowing aggressive operators to achieve faster delivery without excessive fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual fuel consumption, vehicle operating conditions, and route progress, then provides real-time feedback to adjust speed recommendations and fuel management strategies. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain optimal balance between trip time and fuel economy even when operators use aggressive driving patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of vehicle fuel quantity management are provided to assist in determining an optimal quantity of fuel to carry on-board a vehicle. Certain routes are sufficiently short so to not require a completely filled fuel tank to traverse. Additionally, most routes have an abundance of vehicle fueling stations that provide ample refueling opportunities, thus permitting an operator to carry less fuel than might be required to complete a route. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure balance initial fuel loading and fuel stops to optimize the amount of freight weight that can be carried for a given route. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination while maintaining drivability.