WHAT IS PLATOONING?
SEVERAL LONG-DISTANCE LORRIES DRIVE BEHIND IN EACH OTHER IN THE SLIPSTREAM.
Autonomous and connected driving is set to fundamentally change road freight transport. This refers to automated platoons – i.e. groups – of long-distance lorries that can drive behind each other in close proximity (between 15 and 21 metres) with the help of technical driving assistance and control systems.
Lorry platooning is one of the concepts that can revolutionise transport on motorways.
If the vehicles are aligned in a convoy, the lead vehicle can transmit its driving behaviour to the others by means of car-to-car communication. In this way, the convoy is able to perform manoeuvres such as accelerating and braking synchronously for all vehicles. The lead vehicle changes continuously in the convoy. The vehicles behind react without any time delay, practically ruling out rear-end collisions.
The target is to achieve 10% less fuel consumption.
Experts promise that this technology will allow lorries to drive in line within a few metres of each other without danger, and significantly reduce their air resistance. In order to further save fuel and reduce CO₂2emissions significantly. Self-driving lorries should also help to increase road safety.Platooning in real transport operations is only at the testing stage.
In the EU, platoon lorries are currently still manned by test drivers or, in some cases, by professional drivers who can take over the wheel again at any time. The long-term goal, however, is to make platooning largely autonomous.
Banner Batterien is in the thick of things instead of just being there, with the most powerful starter and on-board power supply batteries in the Buffalo Bull AGM series for long-distance lorries.
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