Fuel Consumption Monitoring for Champions and Effortless Operation
With the significant increase in gas prices, fleet managers and operators are under pressure to maximize fuel economy and minimize waste and losses. To achieve this, you must be aware of your usage. Fuel consumption monitoring delivers accurate fuel cost information, aids in cost savings through route optimization, predicts maintenance dates, identifies fuel theft, and boosts driver productivity. Basically, it enables businesses to gain an edge over rivals and maximize pump profits.
For a Fleet to Operate Effortlessly
Drivers can select an engine operation mode that saves resources using RPM and fuel rate information. Operators can also track fuel usage using the online telematics system and remotely monitor the technical condition of fuel systems and engines.
Many fleet owners, in one way or another, face fuel theft during vehicle or stationary machinery operations. The highest rate of fuel misuse occurs with agricultural, construction, and other machines where fuel is accounted for in accordance with engine hours. The most typical ways fuel gets stolen are via underfilling fuel tanks, draining fuel tanks, and engaging in fraud with fuel cards and cash vouchers. All these can be eliminated by using a fuel monitoring system.
How Does a Fuel Management System Work?
Fuel management systems work with the help of sensors affixed to the fuel tank. These systems are made to precisely record gas level readings in the tank, ignition status, and battery level.
The readings are entered into a computing device, processed, and sent to a cloud server through Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technology. The technology uses four different bands over an open cellular communication system to receive and transmit data over long distances.
Changes in fuel level can be measured in various ways using mileage calculation, fuel gauge meters, and other tools. However, gasoline sensors allow you to identify fuel fills, unexpected drains, and other fuel tank activities. Every fuel tank activity is captured and reported by Email, SMS, or mobile application notifications.
Benefits of Implementing Fuel Monitoring Systems
There are several ways fuel consumption monitoring can help fleet owners achieve a multi-directional economic effect.
Improving Data Accuracy
Switching to an automated system means you can rely on accurate and up-to-date data. This is because human errors are prevalent in data collection.
Your fuel monitoring system will update your data in real-time, enabling you to take prompt action in the event of any issues, enhance your fleet performance, and extend their duration on the road. The data is ideal for analysis and decision-making.
Reducing Fraud
Fuel theft is considered a significant issue in the fleet industry. One of the key purposes of fuel consumption monitoring is to monitor and control gas usage. At times, thieves may use fuel skimming to create fraud charges. They might use skimmers to replace card readers at fuel pumps and capture cardholder data. The fuel management system can trail the precise amount of fuel utilized and when someone accesses fuel. Fleet managers can use this data to detect security issues within their fleet and take the necessary precautions.
Using Sensors in Multiple Fuel Tanks
Multiple fuel tanks store fuel separately in a vehicle, and the engine operates on one gas tank at a time. Monitoring sensors in fuel tanks can help fleet managers monitor or keep track of all fuel activities.
Lowering a Fleet's Impact on Climate
Making vehicles more environmentally friendly benefits not only human beings but the environment in general. Automated fuel management systems improve fuel efficiency and help reduce a fleet's effect on the environment.
Customers are always concerned about how the products and services they use affect the environment. Thus lowering your carbon footprint can increase their loyalty. Being cautious about the environment will demonstrate to staff and clients your commitment to the future of your community.
Sustainability is, in fact, mainly an ethical issue but with cost-related implications. Digitizing fleet management and maintenance procedures are ideal for protecting the environment and preventing variable gas prices.
Minimizing Operational Costs
With real-time information and updates from management systems, fleet managers can monitor fuel usage and identify idling and abnormal routes taken by drivers. Using this information, they can improve fuel economy across their fleet, which can amass immense savings. Fleet managers can also measure changes over time and propel good fuel management practices while taking note of bad driving habits and identifying drivers who need extra training.
Simplifying Fuel Tax Reporting
Tax reports and fuel levies may need serious attention if there's a significant expenditure on fuel. Fortunately, fuel management systems make it easy to control and keep track of the amount of petrol consumed by a fleet annually.
When filing returns, fleet owners must provide detailed information regarding the dates and distances traveled by a fleet of vehicles during a particular year. It can be an uphill task to keep track of all this data, but through automating the fuel management process, fleet managers can easily report fuel usage for tax purposes.
Ways to Monitor Fuel Consumption in a Fleet
Fuel consumption monitoring is a critical feature of fleet management and GPS tracking. There are several ways to measure a vehicle's fuel consumption. In this guide, we will assess the various fuel consumption monitoring methods to help you determine the most suitable for your fleet.
Fuel Consumption Data From CAN Bus
The main idea behind this method of fuel consumption monitoring is to attach a GPS tracker to the vehicle's CAN bus (Control Area Network) to collect data from an internal stock fuel level sensor. New generation trucks such as Volvo, Scania, MAN, DAF, and Mercedes use CAN J1939, a unique electronic communication system, to connect onboard electronic modules.
This interface ensures data exchange between various sensors, the onboard system, and other external devices attached to the vehicle is flawless. You can read information about total fuel consumed, instant fuel consumption, RPM, speed, coolant, and oil temperature using a GPS tracker that supports the CAN bus interface. Not only can CAN bus fuel consumption data be used by trucks, but it can also be helpful in specialized equipment, tractors, buses, and diesel generators.
Pros
Relatively inexpensive
Ease of installation (if you are conversant with CAN bus wires)
Cons
Fuel consumption data can be inaccessible for reading. It's not always available on the CAN bus
Inaccurate data. Usually, there are errors involved
Data can be missing, corrupted, or erratic- especially for older vehicles
You can't monitor the fuel tank, hence the high chance of fuel theft
Using Fuel Flow Meters or Fuel Level Sensors
The volume of incoming fuel is measured using flow meters mounted on the fuel line of the vehicle's engine system. Other sensors can also report fuel temperature and engine hours. Information received from flow meters is sent to a GPS tracker, which communicates the readings to the fleet management system.
Flowmeters boast a very small error margin of 1% to 3%. Fleet managers can, therefore, get accurate data on the amount of fuel consumed and also assess efficiency, calculate fuel consumption rates, and plan costs.
Pros
Provides very accurate readings -- 90-99% accuracy
Precise measurement of vehicle fuel consumption rate even for short operation periods
Aids in monitoring the health of the fuel system and engine and enables the implementation of preventative technical maintenance
Cons
Expensive to buy and deploy a fuel flow meter
High installation and maintenance costs
Installation of fuel flow sensors requires time and help from a qualified specialist
Difficult to trace fuel fillings and drains from the tank
Connection to Fuel Level Sensor Installed in a Vehicle
The fuel level sensor is installed inside the vehicle's tanks to trace changes in fuel levels. Regarding accuracy, fuel level sensors are no different from flowmeters (about 97-99% accuracy).
But to attain this degree of accuracy, you must correctly install and calibrate the sensor before doing the tank calibration. As a result, installation and configuration should be performed only by qualified integrators.
Like any other sensor above, fuel level sensors ought to be connected to a GPS tracker for their data to reach the monitoring platform. On the monitoring platform, you can then see where and when the fuel level in the tank changed. Plus, some sensors come with their own GPRS modem and GPS module, so you can use them without any tracking device.
Coupled with accurate fuel data, these sensors enable you to:
Determine incomplete and false refueling
Record drains and fuel fillings
Ascertain if there were any drains through the return pipe
Recognize micro drains
Pros
Relatively cheap
Ability to track fuel fluctuations
High accuracy
Sensors are non-invasive; they help prevent fuel leakage and shield the tank's integrity
Cons
Complicated installation
Accuracy decreases with time and distance traveled
Hard to measure fuel consumption during brief periods of operation when the volume of fuel isn't changing noticeably
Fuel management systems enable fleets to increase their productivity and cut costs. To maintain optimal performance, fleet managers can now focus on operations, vehicles, and drivers instead of their expenses. With actionable information on fuel consumption, fleet managers can save time, cut expenses, restructure tax reporting, and improve driving habits. These systems are easy adjustments that can change any fleet anywhere in the world.
Here's The Table summarizing The Fuel Consumption Monitoring for Champions and Effortless Operation
Fuel consumption monitoring systems play a crucial role in optimizing fleet operations by providing accurate data, detecting fuel theft, reducing fraud, and improving environmental sustainability, ultimately enhancing productivity and profitability.