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Case Studies

 

It's not easy to be a pioneer. Looking at what others have done can provide ideas for positive change, guide you safely past any pitfalls and provide reassurance that what is being planned can be achieved.

 

 

Plenty of Transport companies, big and small, Australian and Internationa, have cut costs, improved productivity and lowered environmental impacts simultaneously. Learning from their successes is smart business.

 

 

 

Sustainable Freight Case Studies

 

 

Linfox - GreenFox Initiative

 

Transport giant Linfox custs both costs and carbon on its road transport Fleet.

 

 

SCT Logistics - Fuel Efficiency Choices

 

SCT incorporates enviornmentally sustainable design into Locomotive purchases for big savings.

 

 

Adelaide Airport - Level 2 Carbon Reduction Accreditation

 

Adelaide Airport succesfully takes on the tall task of greening an entire postcode, from terminals to ground water.

 

 

Toll - Smarter Green Inititative

 

Toll takes a strategic look at road transport emissions for savings.

 

 

Bigger is Better

 

Globally we are seeing a trend towards bigger aircraft, bigger trains, bigger ships and bigger trucks. As freight transport units get bigger the transport costs per tonne of freight reduces.

 

 

OCIUS

 

The Australian company OCIUS has been designing and supplying their patented SolarSailor and Hybrid Marine Power technology since 1999. Their technology has applications on tankers, commercial ferries, private yachts and unmanned surveillance drones.

 

 

 

 

Energy Efficiency Case Studies for Road Transport

catalouged by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism

 

 

Electric Drivetrains

 

Fully electric drivetrains are considered most suitable for urban applications where regenerative braking can be maximised in stop-start driving, and where a limited range is not a significant issue.

 

Hybrid Electric Drivetrains

 

Hybrid vehicles can deliver a significant fuel saving when matched carefully to the right application.They are best suited to urban freight applications with frequent stop-start conditions, which maximises the benefit of regenerative braking.

 

 

Mechanical Hybrid Drivetrains

 

The main determinant of suitability within the Australian market appears to be whether sufficient energy can be recovered from braking to offset the disadvantages of carrying the system’s additional weight. The most obvious applications are those that involve frequent stop-start driving, including light commercial vehicles, buses, and medium and heavy trucks operating in urban environments.

 

 

Automated Manual Transmissions

 

The highly urbanised nature of Australian cities and the stop-start, high gear shifting drive cycles suggest a high level of fit for urban applications in the Australian context. However, the technology can also bring benefits in open-road driving.

 

 

Reduced Rolling Resistance Tyres

 

Reduced rolling resistance tyres offer genuine potential for fuel savings and emissions reductions across all vehicle types. They are particularly suited to long-haul applications, allowing for reduced resistance when driving at higher speeds.

 

 

Tyre Inflation Management

 

Incorrectly inflated tyres increase both drag and fuel consumption. Monitoring by drivers can beboth labour-intensive and time consuming. Automatic monitoring/inflation systems ensure pressures remain close to ideal, removing the responsibility from drivers and thus increasing reliability/accuracy of pressure levels.

 

 

Idle Managemment

 

Idle management technology is primarily an OEM feature fitted to new vehicles and is particularly suited to light-duty urban application drive cycles with significant stopping and starting (such as urban areas).

 

 

Improved Vehcile Aerodynamics

 

The higher the drag coefficient of a vehicle, the higher the energy losses, resulting in greater fuel consumption. The drag coefficient tends to increase from light commercial vehicles to buses, followed by rigid trucks, and then articulated trucks.

 

 

Lightweight Trailers

 

Lightweight materials benefit both light commercial and heavy vehicle operations, with modifications to trailers and trucks applicable to both. However, there may be more opportunities with bodies and trailers than the base truck itself, as manufacturers already try to design for light weight to optimise the payload.

 

 

 

Super Single Tyres

 

This opportunity has a high level of fit with Australian road freight application and is readily available in the Australian market for immediate application. There was a period when these tyres were very popular; however, it appears operators are moving away from this option due to serviceability and repair considerations.

 

 

 

Refrigeration

 

In this area, Australia mostly adopts overseas-developed systems, so the availability of innovative and low-emissions systems depends on international product plans. Local suppliers indicate that power units using alternative power sources do not feature prominently in their current plans; however, efficiency-focused systems are available.

 

 

Improved Vehicle Procurement Practises

 

Some new truck dealers offer simulation or modelling programs that can help customers determine the most appropriate specification for their new truck in its particular duty cycle or application. Yet, with the heavy vehicle fleet in Australia being quite old by international standards, the opportunity applies equally to specifying new vehicles (e.g. gear ratios, engine size, cab design) as it does to selecting used vehicles for purchase.

 

 

Packaging Minimilisation

 

Commitments and some progress have been made in this area under the auspices of the National Packaging Covenant, but this issue would benefit from greater focus by the freight logistics industry and its customers.

 

 

 

Night Time Freight Movement

 

While there are many examples of this opportunity working, it is important for operators to work with their customers and consult with their local council to mitigate against the impacts of increased night-time noise in residential areas. One solution may be to restrict night-time operations to vehicles that only comply with the latest drive-by noise standards.

 

 

 

Load Consolidation

 

There is significant discussion between government and industry surrounding maximising vehicle loads. One of the key barriers to the adoption of this innovation relates to the capacity of the existing New South Wales road network (particularly road bridges) to support the higher load vehicles.

 

 

 

Improved Driver Practises

 

Countries including Canada and the United Kingdom are successfully running voluntary driver behaviour change programs; however, the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions through driver behaviour change in Australia still remains relatively unexplored.

 

 

Preventive Maintenance Procedures

 

Preventive maintenance is a relevant opportunity for all equipment and machinery. Many fleet managers and drivers will already be aware of the importance of this measure as a way of preventing breakdowns, but may not have considered the importance of regular maintenance and prompt repairs in the context of fuel savings.

 

 

 

 

Energy Efficiency Case Studies for Rail Transport

catalouged by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism

 

 

 

Engine Switching Locomotives

 

The applicability of this concept in Australia is limited. Experience suggests that benefits may be accessible only at low throttle levels as there may be some sacrifice of power compared to a conventional single diesel.

 

 

AC Traction

 

AC traction systems replace conventional DC traction motors in a locomotive. They provide higher levels of wheel to rail adhesion and enable less powerful locomotives, or a smaller number of locomotives, to be used for a specific task.

 

 

Hybrid Drivetrains

 

There is limited Australian experience with these systems and the applicability is also low. US studies indicate that benefits may be accessible only when used in low horsepower switching operations, given that full power is needed only intermittently and for only relatively short periods. This limitation is supported by a general lack of linehaul applications using the technology.

 

 

 

Battery Storage and Weight Reduction

 

Energy storage is a key restriction on range if storage is used. Only one prototype has been developed using this technology. This suggests a long timeframe before a commercially viable system can be competitive and adopted on a wide scale.

 

 

Double Stacking

 

In Australia payloads are subject to lower axle-load limits and have smaller loading outlines on some routes. Double-stacking capability is now permitted with greater clearance on the Parkes–Adelaide–Perth line/segment.

 

 

Driver Assistance Software

 

Driver assistance software uses a portable data logger and GPS receiver which can interface with the train to log location, speed and notch setting. Software then estimates fuel consumption from the data logs to provide instructions to optimise power according to line segment grade and curvature.

 

 

Auxilary Power Systems

 

In Australia a significant amount of dwell time (idling) is spent in passing loops and not in the rail yard, when compared as a proportion of total transit time. At face value, this would indicate that there is a potential need for such systems.

 

 

Electronically Controlled Pneumatic brakes

 

Extensive trials of ECP braking systems have taken place and Australia is now considered a rapid adopter of this technology across its rolling stock. ECP braking would realise the most benefits in areas of changing terrain where it would allow higher downhill speeds with increased inertia to reduce power requirements when going up the next hill.

 

 

Idle Management Devices and Speed Management

 

Limited idle reduction opportunities exist for main line applications due to regulations that prevent locomotives from being switched off. Additionally, auxiliary power systems may be needed to provide driver comfort in remote locations.

 

 

Regenerative Loading / Unloading Cranes

 

 

There is a need to ensure that cranes have the flexibility to cater for the variety of container sizes found at Australian rail yards.

 

 

Intermodal Train Planning

 

Intermodal transportation makes the handling of freight simpler, quicker and more affordable by storing freight in containers that can be moved from truck, to train, to ship without having to unload and reload containers.

 

 

 

 

 

External Case Study Links

 

 

South Australia's Low Emission Vehicle Strategy

Case Studies covering Eco-Driving, Alternative Fuels, Hyprid Vehicles, Biodiesel and Fleet Efficiency.

 

 

Asciano:

Shifting from road to rail freight transport

 

 

Stevedoring wind turbines (Patrick)

 

 

Innovation and employee education save fuel (Rail Freight)

 

 

Blue Circle Southern Cement

Eco-Driving Savings Potential

 

 

Low Carbon Freight Dividend

(5 Case Studies + Links to 5 others)

 

 

Best Practise Factory for Freight Transport

(l50 European case studies)

 

 

World Bank

Case Studies on Green Trucks/Freight Transport Initiatives

 

 

Rare Consulting (Australia)

20 Case Studies - including some Green Freight examples

 

 

Victorian Freight and Logistics Council 

Higher Productivity Vehicles - Case Studies

 

 

Wal-Mart Stores

Improving components of the supply chain to reduce cost and environmental impact.

 

 

Greening Logistics for Green Growth in Korea

 

 

 

Kmart Distribution Centres

Case Study detailing Kmart's Lean Logistics.

Sustainable Freight
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admin@safreightcouncil.com.au

Sustainable Freight is an inniative of the SA Freight Council.

Telephone : +61 8447 0635

Fax : +61 8447 0606

Email : admin@safreightcouncil.com.au

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