Daimler Trucks will no longer engage in platooning. The theory proved rosier than practice, argues CEO Martin Daum.
Daum shared the news on the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, TTM knows. In recent years, the truck manufacturer invested 50 million euros in platooning, the technology where two or more trucks are linked together and drive on short distances. This should eventually save about four per cent on fuel.
Fuel savings often below one per cent
According to Daum, it turned out that that percentage was often not achievable. "Too often the distance between trucks fluctuated. Due to ramps, slip roads or intervening traffic. That meant having to add gas to get the platoon to drive close together again. With that, the benefit in terms of fuel savings dropped below one per cent. Too little to continue with it, we think."
On a pilot light
Daimler Trucks says it will still complete existing projects with partners. In addition, it does not want to write off platooning altogether, but "put it on a pilot light". "Who knows, maybe the future will bring technology or insights that will make us change our opinion. But right now it does not."
