PIT Group Brings Testing Expertise to Truck Platooning Research

Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems performance testing taking place from July 24^th to August 18^th, 2017

Montreal, QC – August 9^th, 2017 – PIT Group, the research and engineering branch of FPInnovations focused on improving fleet maintenance and operations in the North American transportation industry, announces its participation in Transport Canada’s Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems (CTPS) testing program taking place from July 24th to August 18th, 2017, at the Motor Vehicle Test Centre in Blainville, Quebec.

Supported by the ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program, the Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems (CTPS) testing program is a joint effort led by Transport Canada and includes the National Research Council Canada; Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology (University of California at Berkeley); the U.S. Department of Energy; the U.S. Federal Highway Administration; the California Department of Transportation, and Volvo Trucks.

FPInnovations’ PIT Group was selected to participate due to its renown testing expertise, and will manage track operations and provide trailers, drivers, test engineers and scientific equipment, in addition to conducting fuel consumption measurements using the TMC Fuel Consumption Test Procedure in a ISO 17 025 context.

In 2016, the same team successfully conducted Fuel Economy Testing of a Three-Vehicle Truck Platooning System. This year, the group is focusing on the real world performance and reliability of CTPS using a range of tractor-trailer configurations, speeds, separation distances and weights in various traffic conditions.

Through reductions in aerodynamic drag and vehicle spacing, CTPS offers the potential to improve fuel economy, emissions, traffic flow, and road capacity by employing wireless communications and automation to create a convoy or “platoon” of multiple trucks following in close succession. The technologies employed by CTPS also have potential benefits for drivers and for increasing road safety.

“Platooning is an important step towards autonomous vehicles and to realizing the potential to reduce fuel consumption, eliminate highway congestion and improve safety,” said Yves Provencher, director, market and business development of PIT Group. “This year’s testing program will provide a valuable understanding of the real savings potential of platooning. We are pleased to contribute our ten years of testing expertise to assist in this valuable industry research effort.”

For information about attending the ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles: Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems Demonstration, please contact Karine Seguin.

About PIT Group

FPInnovations’ PIT Group is an independent, third-party organization that focuses on testing technologies and evaluating operational effectiveness for member fleets. PIT Group’s four main areas of focus are: testing fuel efficiency of technologies using its Energotest, verifying that ELD solutions meet the US and/or Canadian requirements, assessing fleet operations for areas of improvements and research, testing and development of smart mobility solutions.  PIT Group’s Energotest is recognized in the trucking industry as the gold standard for fuel economy tests and is ISO 17025 certified.