- Cobra UK's speed limiter could help fleets reduce van fuel
costs by nearly 40%
- Speed limiters also protect drivers, reduce emissions and
improve engine life
- Cobra is offering its speed limiter at a special price of just
£249** including fitting, a saving of at least £50
A recent trial by leading safety, security and telematics
provider, Cobra UK, has proven that a speed limiter can help fleets
reduce fuel costs by nearly 40%, and help employers meet Duty of
Care requirements by protecting their drivers.
In the independent test, Cobra achieved a 37% reduction in fuel
use with its speed limiter; a figure which it believes could be
further improved with a professional driver at the wheel.
Cobra's speed limiter was restricted to 56mph and fitted to a
2.0 diesel Volkswagen Transporter Sportline van. Over a 260 mile
trip on semi-urban parkways, city roads and motorways in the East
Midlands, the van returned 43.91* miles per gallon. With the
limiter removed and driving the identical route at usual motorway
speeds, the fuel economy figure dropped to 32.01mpg.
This meant a fuel cost saving of £16.86 with the limiter fitted
for this short trip alone, which could equate to an annual saving
of £1,686 on a Transporter van covering 26,000 miles each year.
Whatever your fleet size, this type of fuel saving cannot be
ignored and should be a crucial consideration when looking at
reducing whole life costs.
Protecting a driver while they are using a vehicle on company
business is also paramount to any modern day company's Health and
Safety strategy, and a speed limiter goes some way to helping
protect drivers' licences, by reducing their speed and their
chances of being involved in an accident.
Fleets will also benefit from lower emissions, as well as
improved engine life. Restricting a light commercial vehicle to a
maximum speed helps reduce the stress and strain on a vehicle's
engine, and given that many light commercials run on a double shift
or seven days a week, a speed limiter can help protect the operator
from expensive unplanned maintenance work.
Managing Director of Cobra UK, Andrew Smith, says: "Any light
commercial that is regularly driving on motorways, dual
carriageways and A and B roads should see an impressive reduction
in fuel running costs. Our test shows a 37% reduction in fuel use
at a restricted 56mph, but we estimate by setting the limiter at
70mph, operators will see a 15-20% reduction in fuel use."
Speed limiters can be fitted to the majority of light
commercials up to and including 3.5 tonnes and are programmable to
56mph, 60mph and 70mph. The limiter is compatible with Euro 4 and
Euro 5 petrol and diesel engines, and comes with a two year parts
warranty.
In a bid to highlight the benefits of speed limiters, Cobra is
offering its speed limiter at a special price of just £249**
including fitting, saving customers at least £50. The offer is
restricted to light van fleets operating 25+ vehicles, and orders
must be received by 5pm on 31 July 2012.
...ends...
*Calculation based on February 2012 average diesel prices of
142.8 pence per litre (according to the AA)
** Plus VAT