PIT Group announces U.S. Energotest Campaign
PIT Group, an engineering and research group for the North American trucking industry, announced its first U.S. Energotest campaign. PIT Group’s Energotest will be held at the Continental Truck Tires Uvalde Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas from Feb.13 – 17, 2017 with a VIP & Media Day to be held on Feb. 16, 2017, according to the company.
"This first Energotest in the U.S. will showcase the credibility of our team of highly qualified experts by providing accurate, verified data on the performance of technologies for fleets and technology providers in the U.S.," said Yves Provencher, PIT Group Manager. "Thanks to a thorough process using cutting-edge equipment, Energotest will help fleets rest assured they are obtaining high-quality, reliable results."
According to the company, many suppliers have expressed interest in joining the first U.S. Energotest - an event that brings together transportation fleets and technology providers in order to give them the opportunity to take part in a unique road testing laboratory experience. “Energotest provides accurate, independent, indisputable data on the economic and environmental impact of green technologies. For the testing, the experienced, ISO17025-certified PIT Group team will be producing high-quality results, using the strictest procedures in the industry,” the company added.
Provencher explained that the widely accepted and proven SAE J1321 procedure used during Energotest is the most accurate method for evaluating technology’s impact on fuel consumption. “Other tests, such as those that measure aerodynamic drag reduction, make assumptions about the effect of a technology on fuel use,” he explained. “Drag can be accurately measured, but the formulas used to translate it into fuel economy could be inaccurate.”
“We measure fuel consumption on a track where every possible variable is controlled,” Provencher added. “The result is a fuel saving projection that is highly representative of what a fleet can expect to realize in actual over the road service. While we may test as many as 20 technologies during one week-long Energotest event, each test is completed in one or two consecutive days, which removes uncertainties associated with tests that are performed over several days or even weeks.”