Heavy-duty “green” challenge

March 28, 2003
Michelin will include competition and testing of commercial vehicles for the first time at this year’s “Challenge Bibendum,†to be held September 23-25 in California.

Michelin will include competition and testing of commercial vehicles for the first time at this year’s “Challenge Bibendum,” to be held September 23-25 in California.

“Testing of commercial vehicles is new and much more complex” within Challenge Bibendum, which has previously focused primarily on passenger cars, noted Ellis Johnson, manager, OE engineering.

Heavy-duty competition will be broken into several classes based on GVW: Class 6-7, P&D vehicles, Class 8 trucks, Buses (city transit and highway) and Other (including military and those not fitting elsewhere).

Each class will be evaluated in four categories: emissions, noise (external), fuel economy and acceleration. Johnson said Michelin will also measure fuel use during overnight idling of Class 8 trucks to attempt to incorporate this issue into the reported outcome.

The overall goal of the Challenge, Johnson added, is “not to pick one superior vehicle but allow drivers and fleets to compare current state-of-the-art to baseline performance among a variety of technologies in several weight categories. Customers must decide for themselves what choice is best for them.”

The challenge is named after the “Michelin Man,” whose official name is “Bibendum,” and was launched five years ago to celebrate his 100th birthday by saluting environmental advances in the automotive realm.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Ultimate Trailer Tracking Technology Checklist for Enterprise Fleets

We understand the challenges you face in consolidating inventory, reducing theft, and tracking revenue. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate checklist to help you evaluate your...

Discover 4 Easy Ways to Level-Up Efficiency with Trailer Telematics

In today's competitive landscape, gaining an edge is vital. That's why top fleets are utilizing trailer telematics to boost efficiency and we've captured their secrets. Introducing...

The Future of Mirrors is Closer Than it Appears

Why Mirror Camera Systems are the next step for fleet safety and exoneration While many commercial trucking cameras are similarly marketed, they are not all created equally. The...

The 20:1 Solution: Unlocking the ROI of a Modern Asset Maintenance Solution

Discover how modern fleet maintenance software can drive step-change improvements in shop efficiency, cost control and vehicle productivity, along with how to calculate the ROI...