Arriva Wirral has won the Environmental Award at the annual Wirral Investment Network (WiN) Awards because of the environmental benefits seen by the company since the installation of EcoManager to the company’s fleet of buses.

The judges awarded the annual prize because of the company’s commitment to protecting the environment through the introduction of EcoManager. Special focus was placed on the innovative approach to reducing emissions and saving fuel.

Arriva demonstrated to the judges that by utilising EcoManager’s driver’s aid, drivers could adjust their driving techniques to improve fuel economy and emissions. The objective of the scheme is to improve fuel efficiencies by 4% or more, to embrace greener driving practices through awareness, and to reduce the carbon footprint.

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “We are delighted that EcoManager has again been the cornerstone of efficiency and safety improvements for Arriva and their environmental aims and objectives have been recognised and rewarded.”

The EcoManager system has also been instrumental in another set of awards for Arriva.  Data from the system was used to identify five Arriva drivers who have adopted the most economic, smooth and safest driving style over the last twelve months.  They were presented with ECO Driver of the Year Awards at Arriva’s annual Make A Difference (MAD) Awards, sponsored by 21^st Century.

EcoManager has been in use on Arriva buses for several years and has helped cut fuel consumption by 12%.  Passengers have also reported improved journey experiences, and even accident rates have been reduced.

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “This is the second time we have sponsored the MAD Awards and we are delighted to be involved again.  The Awards are a celebration of Arriva’s ongoing commitment to its drivers and passengers.”

The winning drivers were (pictured from left to right in the photograph with Finance Manager of Arriva Shared Services North, Lesley White):

Nigel Bastow, Castleford Depot
Chris Halloran, Selby Depot
Darryl Sharpe, Wakefield Depot
Keith Blackburn, Heckmondwike Depot
Ken Wood, Dewsbury Depot

The companies are already working in partnership on several large projects, including pilots for the fuel saving and driver performance system EcoManager.

Nick Grimond, Chief Executive for 21^st Century Technology Solutions (pictured left with Pedro Amaral, General Manager at Neves&Neves), comments:  “We are delighted to be working with Neves&Neves on some exciting projects in Portugal.  They are highly respected in the passenger transport industry in Portugal, particularly for their ticketing solutions.  Combining their skill sets and experience with our award winning products allows for great synergy and a successful future for the two companies.”

21^st Century now has operations in eight European countries and enhanced its focus on Europe with a successful representation at Busworld.  The international team saw manufacturers, suppliers, distribution partners and potential new customers from 32 countries at the seven day show which was the company’s seventh international exhibition in the last two years.

In the coalition Government’s initial spending review on 18^th October 2010, it was announced that the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) would be cut by 20% in the year 2012-2013. The advance warning was designed to give operators time to adjust and find ways to counteract the cuts.

BSOG is paid by the Department for Transport to reimburse operators for some of the excise duty paid on fuel used on eligible local bus routes.  BSOG was designed to ensure that less profitable routes were kept operating for the benefit of users.

The current amount of duty paid per litre of diesel is approximately 57p, with BSOG reimbursing 43.21p per litre.  The rebates for biofuels (biodiesel and bioethanol) were higher in previous years, but have already been cut to the same rate as diesel this year. Further discounts are available, for example an increase of 3% is awarded to bus operators that can demonstrate fuel savings of 6%.

There are also incentives for operators using ITSO smartcard systems, who receive an 8% increase in BSOG and those operators that fit AVL receive a 2% increase.  However, neither of these incentives can be claimed for routes secured by Transport for London.

The incentives are cumulative, so if an operator adopts all of these incentives they can increase their basic BSOG rate by 13%.

Finally, operators of low carbon emission buses, ie those that are able to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to an average Euro 3 diesel bus, are eligible for an additional BSOG payment of 6 pence per kilometre.

What Can You Do?

21^st Century Technology, the company behind the award winning fuel saving device EcoManager, says that bus operators can act now to off-set the rise in fuel costs when the government cuts BSOG next year.

The impact on bus operators is significant.  The cut of 20% will increase fuel costs by over 8.6p per litre.  Just one bus doing 50,000 miles a year (at 8.5 mpg) could end up costing an operator over £2,300 a year more after the cuts.  Multiplied across a fleet of buses, the increase in fuel bills is enormous.

Bus operators are being advised to seek ways to save fuel, as the fuel efficiency bonus of 3% higher BSOG for buses that save 6% on fuel is being maintained.

“We have seen a massive rise in enquiries since the announcement on BSOG and this continues as we start to prove the savings are real” says Paul Rogers, Sales and Marketing Director at 21^st Century. “More and more companies realise that EcoManager shows their drivers how to be more efficient and with more than 6,000 buses already fitted across Europe we have proven savings of over 12%, which goes some way towards offsetting the impact of BSOG.”

He continues:  “Even after the cuts in BSOG, by harnessing the average savings achieved through the use of EcoManager, and claiming the additional 3% fuel efficiency incentive, each bus could save over £2600 a year in fuel costs alone.

“Industry experts have predicted even higher fuel costs next year, so with this cut in BSOG operators are facing increasing fuel bills.  However, bus operators have it within their power to reduce their fuel consumption now and keep their fuel bills to a minimum.”

Rogersconcludes:  “With new software, new features and our exclusive Driver’s Aid with Passenger Comfort Indicator, we believe EcoManager is the best way for any operator to minimise the effects of BSOG cuts on their business”.

Further information on BSOG can be obtained form the Department for Transport’s BSOG team on 020 7944 8588

Now, over three years on, EcoManager is installed widely throughout Arriva in the UK and Europe, and their thousands of drivers have achieved a significant reduction in incidents and savings in fuel and CO2 emissions, with fuel savings in excess of 12% reported at some locations. 

EcoManager assists drivers in adopting a more economic, smoother and safer driving style by highlighting when braking, accelerating and cornering is done correctly or otherwise through an in-cab driver’s aid.  The driver’s aid lights a series of red, amber and green LEDs on a real-time display according to how efficiently the bus is being driven.  Online management reporting software shows which drivers on which routes are driving efficiently and safely and highlights any areas where they may benefit from additional instruction.

The fuel savings made so far have also equated to a significant saving on CO2.  Arriva North West region, which was the first to install EcoManager, has saved 7,000 tons of carbon a year.  Arriva’s carbon reduction has been recognised by the Carbon Trust which awarded the company the Carbon Trust Standard.  This Standard identifies organisations that have genuinely acted on climate change and have committed to continuing emission reduction.

The Arriva Runcorn depot was the first to trial EcoManager in 2007.  When it was rolled out across the fleet, drivers were involved from the start and were shown an information video demonstrating the impact of their actions on CO2 emissions, safety and passenger comfort.  As a result of the awareness campaign and focus given to EcoManager during its launch, fuel savings at this depot averaged an impressive 15% and accidents reduced by 64%, highlighting the importance of the launch process in introducing EcoManager.

EcoManager proved to be such a success in Runcorn that Arriva made the decision to roll it out across its UK bus fleet and is now introducing it in some of its mainland European operations. EcoManager’s exclusive and simple driver’s aid transcends language barriers and the simple red, amber and green LEDs make EcoManager accessible for drivers in any country.

EcoManager’s management reporting system uses simple graphics and easy to read layouts to allow bus operators to report on safety and efficiency throughout their fleets and in doing so they can manage risk and costs by identifying areas for improvement.  Reports show how well drivers are performing against their colleagues ensuring sustained focus on safety and efficiency.

If some drivers are found to be performing below average, then a training program using the EcoManager software can be used. This best practice guide to improving driving standards using EcoManager is formed of several phases which are specially designed to improve overall performance and increase the savings made using EcoManager.

This type of initiative ensures that the initial savings are sustained beyond the launch period.  However, bosses at Arriva have found further benefits of changing driver behaviour using EcoManager.  There is evidence to suggest that in the longer term wear and tear on engines and gear boxes will be reduced.  Also, there has been a reduction in the amount of downtime due to repairs to bodywork following accidents.

The reduction in accidents has been significant, and has improved driver and passenger safety.  Figures from Arriva show that in the first year that EcoManager was installed in one depot there was a reduction in the number of all types of incidents of over 64%.  This improvement continued in the second year with a further reduction of 31.8% and in particular passenger falls were reduced by 60%.

At other depots the downwards trend in accident statistics continued following EcoManager installation and training, with many also achieving a significant reduction in incidents. 

Arriva conducts an annual, independent survey of passengers to find out how they rate the bus service.  Passengers reported a recognised improvement in their perception of ’smoothness and freedom from jolting’ after EcoManager was installed (Mori Poll data).

Arriva has also been able to use the detailed fleet management reports generated by EcoManager to improve vehicle deployment.  By comparing different vehicles on the same route, different driving styles in the same vehicle and a particular vehicle type’s performance on different routes, Arriva is able to allocate the most efficient vehicle to each route.

Lynne Beale, Group Risk & Eco Project Manager for Arriva, comments:  “When we embarked on the EcoManager project in 2007 we had clear fuel and carbon saving objectives.  Many depots have exceeded what we expected in terms of results, and our drivers continue to drive efficiently which demonstrates EcoManager’s ability to influence a change in driver behaviourover a sustained period of time.. The EcoManager device which sits on the dashboard acts as a reference to assist drivers in efficient driving techniques and there is even some competition amongst drivers to be the most efficient.  The additional benefits of a better journey experience for our passengers have been a bonus and clearly have wider benefits for the business.”

Another significant benefit to emerge from the promotion of eco driving has been the effect on bus drivers’ health and wellbeing.  Drivers have commented how learning the eco style of driving has benefited them personally by reducing levels of fatigue, anxiety and stress.

Despite being taught how to drive using anticipation and planning techniques, bad habits develop and attitudes to the job change. A combination of these factors can cause strain both physically and mentally by drivers putting themselves under increased pressure. The affects of these personal changes result in drivers functioning on adrenaline, becoming agitated and more fatigued than is necessary.  At the end of a shift drivers who have worked with increased levels of adrenaline are in a higher vigilant, agitated state and find it harder to relax and unwind.  Exposed to this each day over many years can lead to longer term health problems.

A driver commented: ”Eco is the best thing that could have happened to me, my wife thinks I am a different man.”  When questioned, the driver explained how he was happier in his job because he did not feel under pressure anymore. He had finally realised after fifteen years bus driving, that trying to driver faster did not make him reach the destination any quicker.

21^st Century announced in February that it had signed its largest export deal to date to supply mobile CCTV systems to Keolis Sverige AB which operates under the ‘Busslink’ trading name in Stockholm.  The new office will enable 21^st Century to facilitate the supply and installation, and manage the depot infrastructure and ongoing maintenance of CCTV for 1,457 Busslink vehicles, which are all wirelessly linked to depots throughout the network.

Nick Grimond, 21^st Century’s Chief Executive, comments:  “Our relationship with Keolis is just the beginning of our expansion into mainland Europe. The new facility will enable us to deliver and support this prestigious contract and provide an important base for continued expansion into Scandinavia.”

Multi-lingual Kristin has 6 years’ experience working for transport technology solutions providers, having worked mainly within emerging markets.  After completing her MSc Kristin joined the Norwegian technology company Q-Free ASA, where she was responsible for sales and marketing in Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and the UK.  More recently Kristin was Business Development Manager for DILAX Systems UK Ltd.   

“Kristin’s sales and marketing experience combined with her industry knowledge and language skills will be a real asset to 21^st Century”, commented Mark Johnson, Director of International Sales, adding “she will play a key role in building upon our existing overseas customer base and identifying and pursuing new EcoManager and mobile CCTV opportunities throughout Europe.”

Mark, previously Director of Technology for 21^st, was instrumental in the development of the company’s  EcoManager product during 2008 before it was rolled out by Arriva across their UK fleet.  EcoManager is aimed at reducing fuel and maintenance costs, reducing emissions and improving safety for bus operators by monitoring individual driving styles against fuel consumption.   More recently, Mark oversaw  the product’s European launch that has since seen EcoManager adopted by bus operators in three countries in mainland Europe.

In 2010, Mark began discussions with Scandinavian bus operators and local transport authorities to introduce the company’s CCTV products and this has resulted in the company’s expansion within Sweden through the recent £7.2m contract award by Keolis Sverige AB.

“We have a great technical and project resource built on our UK activities that allows us to take our solutions and showcase them to global transport companies and  adapt them to meet the specific needs of each customer”, said Mark on his new role, adding “ I am very much looking forward to building on the success achieved to date and I believe that with our experience in supplying  reliable, high quality solutions and support,  we have a fantastic opportunity to grow our international sales activity significantly.”.

21^st is the trading subsidiary of 21^st Century Technology plc and  is now active in seven countries and regarded as one of Europe’s leading integrators of on-vehicle technology.  21^st boasts  the largest bus CCTV WiFi network in Europe and  its EcoManager product is now installed on over 6,000 buses and the company’s on board CCTV is fitted on over 12,000 buses.

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “I would like to thank all the visitors to our stand, including former Transport Minister Steven Norris who spent some time discussing the benefits of our fuel saving device EcoManager.”

At the NEC Show, 21^st Century launched an enhancement to the company’s award-winning EcoManager.  An enhanced Integrated Safety Device (ISD) now includes the new Passenger Comfort Indicator (PCI) and adds to the existing benefits of lower fuel consumption and associated running costs.

EcoManager is fitted to thousands of buses across Europe and has proven to save an average of 12% on fuel, which is sustained in the long term because of continued monitoring.  The system has also reduced accidents, improved passenger safety and reduced overall running costs through lower wear and tear and because the vehicle is using less fuel it is also emitting 12% less CO2. 

The second new product launch which attracted a record number of visitors to the 21^st Century stand was ‘plug-and-play’ CCTV.  Each high spec and low cost ‘plug-and-play kit’ is supplied with a digital recorder, cameras and everything necessary for an easy install. It can be assembled straight from the box, installed and operational within a matter of minutes. 

Paul Rogers concludes:  “This year’s Euro Bus Expo was our most successful yet.  There was incredible interest in our ‘plug-and-play’ CCTV, particularly because of the high quality and easy install.  EcoManager stands alone with the highest proven fuel saving and there was a huge amount of interest from bus operators and VIP visitors. The new Passenger Comfort Indicator further enhances a superb product.”

21^st Century will be demonstrating the features and benefits of EcoManager at Euro Bus Expo at the NEC on 2^nd to 4^th November on stand T183.

EcoManager assists drivers in adopting a more economic, smoother and safer driving style by highlighting when braking, accelerating and cornering is done correctly or otherwise through an Integrated Safety Device.  The ISD lights a series of red, amber and green lights on a ‘real-time’ dashboard display according to how efficiently the bus is being driven.   This display uses technical details from the vehicle’s CAN system and G-force data in real time and crosses language barriers, making the system ideal for use across the continent. 

Extensive management reports show how well each driver is doing relative to the average, the ideal and the rest of their depot colleagues.

Significant fuel savings of 12% are made almost immediately, and are sustained after the initial success because of continued monitoring.  Further savings are gained through reduced wear and tear on the vehicle and therefore lower maintenance costs.  Accidents are also reduced, further lowering running costs.  Because the vehicle is using less fuel it is also emitting 12% less carbon. 

It is estimated that EcoManager makes savings that cover the initial cost of investment within the first year. 

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “EcoManager took the UK by storm when it was launched here two years ago.  We launched it in Europe earlier this year and have already received orders in four countries and have begun the installation process with nearly 500 already installed.”

21^st Century is offering free trials of EcoManager to prove to operators that they too can benefit from savings of up to 12% on fuel through use of the on board electronic system, which is now used on thousands of buses across Europe.  Through ongoing driver monitoring and reporting, the savings are sustained long term.

EcoManager pays for itself within the first year by fuel reduction alone but bus operators using EcoManager have found that the benefits extend beyond fuel savings and carbon emissions.  The system has also reduced accidents, improved passenger safety and comfort, and reduced overall running costs through lower wear and tear.

Drivers are encouraged to adopt a more economic, smoother and safer driving style as the on board Integrated Safety Device highlights when braking, accelerating and cornering is done correctly.  The ISD lights a series of red, amber and green LEDs on a ‘real-time’ dashboard display according to how efficiently the bus is being driven.   This display uses technical details from the vehicle’s CAN system and G-force data in real time and crosses language barriers, making the system ideal for use in any country.

Easy to use online management software ranks performance on a driver and depot basis to promote best practise.

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “We know how effective EcoManager is at reducing costs and improving passenger safety and comfort.  To prove this we are willing to install EcoManager for a free trial period, after which we are confident that operators will see the benefits first hand and adopt the product across their fleet.  Investing in EcoManager after a trial is really a no cost option and the initial investment pays for itself with a reduction in fuel costs over the first 12 months and has many other less tangible cost benefits and improvements in safety.”

The extensive reports that EcoManager generates for each depot, bus and driver show that even after the first year, drivers are still achieving better fuel consumption than before EcoManager was fitted.

The average reduction in fuel use during the first year was just over 12%, with improvements continuing until the optimum had been reached and the absolute highest mpg was being achieved across the fleet.  After the first year, the initial high savings are being maintained and there are clear signs that drivers have adopted a cleaner, greener driving style.

Paul Rogers, Director of Sales and Marketing for 21^st Century Technology Solutions, comments:  “It is clear that installing EcoManager has an instant affect on drivers by encouraging them to adopt a more fuel efficient driving style.  The savings peak at just over 12% but are then maintained, allaying any fears that drivers will revert to bad habits.  Clearly the impressive savings generated by EcoManager are sustainable in the long term by permanently changing driver behaviour”

The ECO Award will be judged on the data received through Arriva’s use of EcoManager, 21^st Century’s award winning fuel management system.  EcoManager assists drivers in adopting a more economic, smoother and safer driving style by highlighting when braking, accelerating and cornering is done correctly or otherwise through an Integrated Safety Device.  The ISD lights a series of red, amber and green lights on a ‘real-time’ dashboard display according to how efficiently the bus is being driven.  Management reports show how well each driver is doing in terms of fuel economy and smooth driving.

EcoManager has been in use on Arriva buses for two years and has cut fuel costs by 12%.  Passengers have also reported improved journey experiences, and even accident rates have been reduced.

The Arriva MAD Award for ECO driving will assess individual drivers on their performance over twelve months and reward the most improved driver.

The Arriva Yorkshire MAD Awards are being presented at a special ceremony at Elland Road, home of Leeds United Football Club, on Saturday 2^nd October.

Productive driving is one of the most successful methods of improving fuel efficiency. Gradual acceleration, natural slowing and using the correct gears can all contribute to saving a significant amount of money. EcoManager is a valuable system which collects a range of information and statistics from a vehicle's journey, giving you a comprehensive report on features such as speed, distance and over-revving, just to name a few. It provides accurate feedback on the driving experience as a whole, giving you useful information on possible financially damaging driving techniques.

The system not only gives feedback after the journey is complete, but also displays to drivers whether or not they are driving in an efficient manner, so that they can adapt their style to reduce fuel consumption and contribute towards a greener environment. These innovative functions will all help to achieve improved petrol and diesel fuel economy.

Besides its fuel saving benefits, EcoManager can also reduce maintenance costs, as it promotes improved driving styles, which cause less wear and damage to the vehicle. The implications of such a product on your business are enormous. Through maximising the fuel efficiency across all of your vehicles, the potential savings could be extremely substantial, making the system one of the most financially intelligent investments your business could make.
 

Ecomanager advises drivers through an LED screen on how to improve your fuel economy by studying your braking techniques, any excessive vehicle movements, harsh acceleration and overall speed.

By reducing excessive braking, driving at a more conservative speed and avoiding inconsistent motorway lane changes are all tips to help lower your fuel consumption and our system will provide you with up to the minute, real time advice using a red, amber and green light system to improve your driving style.

We are committed to providing a system which both reduces costs for you the driver and improves road safety. It is no secret that diesel powered vehicles have a detrimental impact on the environment, so diesel fuel saving is high on our agenda to save you and your business money at the same time as protecting your surroundings.

In addition to all of this, the high prices set for both petrol and diesel means that understandably everybody is keen to use less fuel to reduce costs. Our leading technology will reduce your emissions, save on fuel and help you to do your bit to lower your carbon footprint.

Through using our industry defining traffic light system, Ecomanager will be sure to help with your fuel saving and provide a successful way to save you money as well as doing your bit for the environment. For any more information on how we can help you please contact us via our online contact form.
 

In addition to the Brake Company Driver Safety Award, Arriva was highly commended in the Eco Fleet category for the 12.1% fuel savings achieved through the 21^st Century EcoManager system.

EcoManager also won an award for innovation at last year’s Bus Awards. The system uses an interactive LED display and integration with on board computers to provide highly accurate feedback to drivers about their acceleration and braking and how safely and efficiently they are driving.  The live feedback enables drivers to adjust their driving style to improve their rating and the overall management data enables managers to review their individual driver and vehicle performance..

Lynne Beale, Group Risk & Eco Project Manager for Arriva, commented:  “The Brake award is recognition of everyone’s hard work and this was made possible by our drivers who have successfully embraced the EcoManager system and adopted an eco driving style that not only helps Arriva reduce its CO2 emissions but also provides a smoother and more comfortable customer journey experience.  As a direct result of the introduction of EcoManager, Arriva has experienced significant improvements in safety performance”.

Utilising our fuel saving solution, EcoManager is able to consistently capture vehicle and driver behaviour data and transmit this to our server, where a selection of web-based reports are available for managers at all levels. These evaluate the performance of individual drivers and vehicles, or even fleets and depots. Competitive schemes such as league tables and incentive programs are a great way of facilitating improvement and training initiatives.

Alongside a reduction in costs and harmful greenhouse gases, our fuel saving technology will also lessen maintenance costs and road accidents, by modifying potentially dangerous driving practises. EcoManager really is an unrivalled piece of equipment.

We utilise the latest trends and technology in order to measure G-forces, speed, braking and excessive vehicle movements – all key performance indicators of a drive. This data is transmitted in real-time to the driver on an LED display. By providing such tangible evidence, drivers are able to see first-hand how and where their driving style can be moderated for the better.

The technology and expertise provided by the team here at EcoManager is an essential tool for any commercial enterprise that is conscious about both its expenditure on fuel and their subsequent effect on the environment. It is well worth checking out our simple EcoCalculator to see the level of fuel saving that could be on offer.

While such savings may seem minimal on individual vehicles, the amount of money that EcoManager can save overall when installed in an number of vehicles is substantial. As every businessman knows, well looked after and reliable vehicles are a commodity that simply cannot be overlooked. Consistently poor driving will inevitably result in high costs in the future.   

Sadly, many drivers may not prioritise the condition of the vehicle they are using when at work – it does not belong to them and so tired or rushed workers may be tempted to push their vehicle beyond acceptable parameters of use. With an EcoManager fuel saving system installed however, drivers are constantly reminded of the effect of their driving style on the vehicle itself, as well as managers having access to detailed assessments of every journey. This means that businesses can significantly reduce unnecessary expenditure on vehicle consumables like tires, brake pads/discs and cam belts etc.

An unexpected breakdown throws a spanner in the works of even the most efficient business. By installing EcoManager, you can be sure that your vehicles aren't left behind. Like any problem, the best solution is prevention, and the most effective way to prevent high vehicle maintenance costs and increased likelihood of breakdown is with EcoManager's top of the range fuel saving solutions.   
 

EcoManager is a revolutionary new vehicle diagnostics system that drives savings and increases the efficiency of a company’s transport operations. It is proven to save up to 12% on your fuel costs, while enabling significant reductions in Carbon Dioxide emissions. In conjunction with this, the road safety record of a fleet of vehicles is improved thanks to a reduction in accidents as drivers adopt a more conservative driving style.

EcoManager uses industry-leading technology to ensure fuel saving within a fleet of vehicles. They measure G-forces, speed, braking and excessive vehicle movements and then transmit this data in real-time to the driver, displayed on an LED screen in front of them. This will highlight areas for improvement and the subsequent moderation of driving style as a result, particularly in minimising heavy braking and harsh acceleration, will enable firms to significantly reduce their fuel costs by up to 12%.

The LED display provides instant feedback to a driver on their style of motoring, which is displayed in an easy to understand ‘traffic light’ system. Green emphasises an efficient driving style with improved passenger safety along with a reduction in maintenance costs. Amber meanwhile represents an average driving style where improvements could be made to reduce costs and improve safety, while Red indicates a driving style that may require further investigation and additional training to achieve those all-important fuel saving opportunities.
 

According to logic and statistics, drivers who are operating their vehicle in the most economical way are also much less likely to be involved in the accidents usually associated with harsh acceleration, sharp breaking and inconsistent lane changes. Indeed, few passengers enjoy a journey that makes them feel unsafe, rushed, or fails to instil confidence in a driver or company. That's where EcoManager can help refine a company's brand and service. When customers know that a vehicle is outfitted with EcoManager's advanced technology, they know that they are choosing a service which is not only committed to reducing its carbon footprint, but also to improving their personal comfort and safety.   

If accidents do happen, companies that have invested in an EcoManager system have a reliable way of reviewing the quality of driving during a journey in minute detail, making investigations into incidents more thorough, and more easily implemented. Accidents become rare however, as live customer installations have demonstrated reductions in the number of passenger incidents is over 20%, with isolated examples of 50% less incidents.

In real terms, this means that men women and children of all ages, from all walks of life are not seriously jeopardising their safety every time they use a bus or take a taxi. Companies using EcoManager can insure that it's not just their profits from fuel saving that are looked after, but also improve passenger safety for valued customers.
 

We at EcoManager understand the importance of identifying inappropriate driving, particularly where the public are at risk. Their fuel saving product not only helps fleet owners to minimise the amount of money they are spending on diesel or petrol on an annual basis, but it could also reduce bus accidents and number of dangerous incidents as well as lower a vehicles carbon dioxide emissions.

The device works by collecting critical vehicle information and identifying an individual’s driving style. This information is then sent to EcoManager’s central server, where it is used to create comprehensive reports. It is perfect for commercial fleets, as each driver can log in to the system when they start a journey. This enables business owners to carefully monitor an individual employee’s performance over a period of time, helping to identify who needs further training.

In addition to these reports, the device can offer real-time feedback to a driver. Their series of LED’s illustrate whether a driving style is positive or negative. Aggressive cornering, hard braking and acceleration, inconsistent lane changing and other aspects of an individual’s driving style are picked up. This feedback can help to prevent dangerous accidents from occurring.

To learn more about the many benefits that this fuel saving system can offer to commercial fleets as well as helping reduce bus accidents, take a look at their website. You could even request a free trial to see the advantages yourself, just fill out their online enquiry form.
 

Vehicles are one of the main contributing factors to global warming, due to their high CO₂ emissions. Whilst the number of cars, vans and trucks on the road has increased significantly over the last 50 years, so have the levels of these harmful emissions so it is important to be aware of the devices that can reduce CO₂ emissions.

That is why EcoManager has developed this fuel saving gadget that offers a number of benefits to commercial drivers, these advantages include increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved road safety.

Simply taking a more considerate approach to driving can help to reduce CO₂ and other harmful gases that are released from a vehicle.

The EcoManager system is used to monitor both the driving style of an individual and the vehicle. The data that the gadget collects is analysed in two ways; firstly, the onboard device illustrates the quality of the driving by illuminating a series of red, amber and green LED’s.

Secondly, the data is sent to the company’s online server where automated reports are generated. These are designed to detail the standard of driving over each journey.

As the price of fuel increases and the state of the world’s eco-systems continue to slowly deteriorate, each individual needs to do their bit. There really isn’t a better time to purchase this fuel saving system. For more information take a look around their site or fill out their online enquiry form.

The company has just signed a new contract worth €1/2 m to fit EcoManager for Arriva in Europe, as 21^st Century continues the installation of EcoManager to over 3,000 Arriva buses in the UK.

EcoManager is now in use by thousands of bus drivers and analysts have studied the data from the last 12 months and found that across the entire driver base, an average of 12% saving was made on fuel and emissions.  In some areas the savings were considerably higher.

By analysing the data from EcoManager devices already in use, experts have calculated that a bus doing 8mpg and 21,000 miles a year will cut their carbon footprint by over 3 tonnes per vehicle per year.  21^st Century has created a dedicated website which contains an on-line calculator for bus operators to calculate their own fuel, carbon and other savings available through the use of EcoManager at www.getecomanager.com

EcoManager was developed by engineers at 21^st Century Technology Solutions and in its first year of active use it has won The UK Bus Award for Best Innovation and was shortlisted in the Route One Excellence Awards.

EcoManager is an intelligent telematics device fitted to a vehicle to monitor driving styles and fuel consumption.  The system provides detailed feedback to drivers to allow them to identify how they can moderate their driving style to save fuel. Management software enables drivers to log in and see how much they have improved and ranks their performance against their colleagues. Company level reports enable comparisons to show more global factors such as the level of improvement in passenger comfort which is also measured.  The system includes a driver’s aid LED with red, amber and green display to alert drivers if they are driving outside of set “eco-friendly” parameters. 

Demonstrations of EcoManager and the detailed reports can be seen on Stand L55 at Transport Publics, Paris, from 8^th to 10^th June.

EcoManager can help reduce Carbon Emissions

The new product from 21^st Century can significantly reduce carbon emissions for commercial vehicles by improving its fuel consumption. It has been calculated that saving 10 litres of fuel will reduce carbon emissions by 26 kg; this only stresses the importance of each business doing their bit for the environment.

This fuel saving system is particularly beneficial for businesses with a large fleet of vehicles. It can dramatically reduce carbon emissions, save money on fuel and improve safety. It creates online reports that show an individual’s driving habits and the vehicles performance, this enables business owners to tailor their training programmes to the requirements of their drivers.

In addition to creating reports, the device can help an individual to make the best decisions when driving, for example choosing the best time to change gears for a smooth, eco-friendly journey. This is communicated through the series of LED’s on the product. These change colour dependent upon whether the driver is using a positive or negative driving style.

If you have any questions about this fuel saving gadget, take a look at the frequently asked questions on the website. Their knowledgeable team are also on hand to take your calls or answer your e-mail enquiry, you can find their contact details on the website.

While the industry can do little to stave off governmental tax rises or international oil costs, it can look to staff training as a method of reducing fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses and emissions. EcoManager is a revolutionary device which allows
managers to monitor and maintain an individual driver's fuel efficiency. With it, executives and drivers alike can view league tables, and work to incentives which help to improve diesel efficiency and Fuel Saving.     

EcoManager can improve Diesel Fuel Economy

Diesel itself is an ideal fuel for transporting heavy loads relatively economically. However, without the training and awareness that a device like EcoManager provides, such an advantage could be squandered by careless and erratic drivers.

 In addition to Fuel Saving, an efficient driving style as encouraged and regulated by a system like EcoManager, helps to reduce natural wear and tear on diesel vehicle parts. This is turn means that each engine is kept in an improved condition, therefore maintaining a higher level of efficiency and improving fuel saving further achieving effective diesel fuel economy.    

EcoManager provides the next level of staff development for businesses operating a fleet of vehicles. In no other way can staff be monitored and motivated in a way that has a direct result on fuel economy. Improved awareness within firms as to the benefits of efficient driving styles on Fuel Saving is absolutely essential to improving diesel fuel economy, reducing costs and maximising driver potential.
 

While these measures will work on paper, it is very difficult firstly enforce them across a company, and also to measure the effectiveness of such techniques at Fuel Saving in reality.

How to Use Less Fuel with EcoManager

The only way to avoid wasting time encouraging ineffective Fuel Saving techniques is by somehow measuring the effectiveness of such techniques, so that those which are pointless can be removed, while the profitable measures are retained. Simply put, that is exactly what EcoManager does. The beauty of such a system lies not only in identifying economic weakness in driving style, but also in validating and confirming an individual employee's care and attention when a considerable savings in fuel are achieved.

Companies can witness the success of their endeavours, without the concern that their special care isn’t achieving anything. EcoManager provides drivers and managers with detailed reports on driving style efficiency, as well as featuring an LED interface which can help drivers cut fuel costs in real time and inform them how to use less fuel.

Overall, this can lead to Fuel Saving levels of up to 12% and allows companies to budget more accurately and more importantly, monitor real savings on a day to day basis. EcoManager's offer of a free no obligation trial is an excellent way of finding out how they can save your company.

EcoManager offers a device that is proven to save drivers of both diesel and petrol vehicles up to 12% in fuel costs, reduce CO2 emissions, improve road and passenger safety as well as reduce maintenance costs. Their diesel fuel saving system is the perfect solution for those that want to save money in all areas of vehicle ownership and protect the environment at the same time.

EcoManager: Diesel Fuel Saving System

The device is a revolutionary tool that monitors driver habits and crucial vehicle information. To develop the consistency of a driver, the EcoManager device is fitted with a series of LED’s, which advises drivers when to adjust their driving style. As an example, it can prompt drivers to change gears and in turn this can improve the efficiency of the vehicle and conditions that are experienced by the passengers.

All of the information that is collated is then sent to the website and individual driver reports are created. This is perfect for businesses with a fleet of drivers, as reports can be used when making a decision to re-train drivers.

For further information about this fuel saving system, take a look at Eco Managers website. Their team would be more than happy to discuss the features and benefits of the system in full, feel free to contact them via telephone or by filling out their online contact form

EcoManager regulates drivers’ acceleration and braking by indicating through a dashboard ‘red-amber-green’ LED display, which provides live feedback advising them how they are driving and enabling them to adjust their driving style to improve their rating.

EcoCalculator on the new www.getecomanager.comwebsite is an interactive calculator designed to show what the proven savings of 12% on fuel can mean in real terms.  The advanced web-based function uses proven parameters taken from months of monitoring thousands of drivers that are actively using the system.

As well as fuel savings, operators can calculate their reduced CO2 emissions using Government statistical parameters showing how much CO2 can be saved when fuel consumption is reduced.  The EcoCalculator function also shows how maintenance and repair costs are reduced, and by how much.  By adding in the annual maintenance bill and cost of accidents, the website will calculate the potential cost savings in these areas too.  Improvements in passenger comfort and the reduction in liability claims that result from using EcoManager can also be calculated on-line.

For example, a bus operator with 100 vehicles and an annual fuel bill of £720,000 can save £86,400 per year, or £864 per vehicle, on fuel alone. . That same fleet can also reduce its carbon footprint by 377,280 kgs of CO2 a year.

EcoManager recently won the UK Bus Award for Best Innovation and was shortlisted in the Route One Excellence Awards.

Analysts have studied the data from the last 12 months and found that across the entire driver base, an average of 12.1% saving was made on fuel and emissions.  In some areas the savings were considerably higher.

By analysing the data from devices already in use, experts have predicted that companies could cut their carbon footprint through EcoManager by over 6 tonnes of CO2 for every vehicle, every year.

EcoManager was developed by engineers at 21^st Century Technology Solutions and in its first year of active use it has won The UK Bus Award for Best Innovation and was shortlisted in the Route One Excellence Awards.

EcoManager is an intelligent telematics device fitted to a vehicle to monitor driving styles and fuel consumption.  The system provides detailed feedback to drivers to allow them to identify how they can moderate their driving style to save fuel. Management software enables drivers to log in and see how much they have improved and ranks their performance against their colleagues. Company level reports enable comparison reports to show more global factors such as the level of improvement in passenger comfort which is also measured.  The system includes an in-cab red, amber green display to alert drivers if they are driving outside of set “eco-friendly” parameters. 

Demonstrations of the EcoManager system and the detailed reports can be seen on Stand B54, Hall 2 at Busworld, Istanbul, from 25^th to 28^th March.

Steve has previously been with the company for eight years where he was responsible for sales in the Vehicle Technology Division.

Steve has twenty years experience in the automotive industry, having held senior positions within companies supplying major vehicle manufacturers across Europe and the Far East.

Steve is now responsible for EcoManager sales in the UK and throughout Europe, including passenger transport markets as well as HGVs and all other types of fleet operations.

EcoManager recently won the UK Bus Award for Best Innovation.  It was also shortlisted in the Route One Excellence Awards and forms part of Arriva Bus Group’s carbon reduction programme that saw the bus company gain Brand Emissions Leader status.

EcoManager is an intelligent telematics device fitted to a vehicle to monitor driving styles and fuel consumption.  The system provides detailed feedback to drivers to allow them to identify how they can moderate their driving style to save fuel. Management software enables drivers to log in and see how much they have improved and ranks their performance against their colleagues. Company level reports enable comparisons to show more global factors such as the level of improvement in passenger comfort which is also measured.  The system includes an in-cab red, amber green display to alert drivers if they are driving outside of set “eco-friendly” parameters.

Analysts have studied the data from the last 12 months and found that across the entire driver base, an average of 12.1% saving was made on fuel and emissions.  In some areas the savings were considerably higher.

By analysing the data from devices already in use, experts have predicted that companies could cut their carbon footprint through EcoManager by over 6 tonnes of CO2 for every vehicle, every year.

EcoManager was developed by engineers at 21^st Century Technology Solutions and in its first year of active use it has won The UK Bus Award for Best Innovation, was shortlisted in the Route One Excellence Awards and formed part of Arriva Bus Group’s carbon reduction programme that saw the bus company gain Brand Emissions Leader status.

EcoManager is an intelligent telematics device fitted to a vehicle to monitor driving styles and fuel consumption.  The system provides detailed feedback to drivers to allow them to identify how they can moderate their driving style to save fuel. Management software enabled drivers to log in and see how much they have improved and ranks their performance against their colleagues. Company level reports enable comparison reports to show more global factors such as the level of improvement in passenger comfort which is also measured.  The system includes an in-cab red, amber green display to alert drivers if they are driving outside of set “eco-friendly” parameters.

Arriva North West and Merseytravel have won the Alexander Dennis Innovation Award for 21^st Century’s fuel saving system, EcoManager, at the UK Bus Awards. EcoManager was developed by 21^st Century to allow bus operators to save fuel and reduce carbon emission whilst also giving passengers a better journey experience.

The annual UK Bus Industry Awards took place this year at London’s prestigious Park Lane Hilton and was attended by over 650 industry representatives. In all there were 20 awards, covering all aspects of planning, delivering, marketing and operating bus services. 

The Innovation Award recognises and rewards new thinking in the industry – amongst operators, authorities and suppliers. It focuses especially on products which can reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency or make bus travel more attractive.

Arriva’s entry for EcoManager demonstrated to the judges that it contributed most to the improvement of the bus product.

EcoManager is a ‘black-box’ unit fitted to the bus to monitor driving styles and measure fuel consumption. The unit provides detailed feedback to drivers after each shift to allow them to identify how they might moderate their driving style to save fuel and ranks their performance against their colleagues. Drivers are identified and linked to a particular route and shift without the need for a separate log in. The system includes an in-cab red, amber green display to alert drivers if they are driving outside of set “eco-friendly” parameters. 

The implementation of EcoManager saw fuel economy improvements of up to 12 per cent, three times the target set at the beginning of the trial. Over the trial period from May 2007 to October 2008 the system saved 100,669 litres of fuel and an estimated 263 tonnes of CO2.

In addition to the 12% fuel savings and associated carbon reduction, EcoManager also lowers maintenance costs and accidents and improves passenger comfort.

Following the trials the technology and training was rolled out across Arriva’s UK regional bus businesses with all new buses featuring EcoManager and the system being retrofitted to existing vehicles.

Phil Stone, Arriva North West Managing Director, commented:  “One of the most rewarding things about EcoManager has been the enthusiastic way it has been embraced by our drivers – something recognised by the UK Bus Awards judges. The innovative technology is a great support but the real key to making this a success has been the people.

“The hearts and minds part of the project included two week 'Green Garage' initiatives to raise awareness of the significant environmental issues facing businesses today. We used employee road shows, newsletters, posters and branded items to make people think about the difference they could personally make.

“EcoManager delivers clear environmental benefits and helps us demonstrate to customers how they can do their bit by switching more journeys to public transport.”

Nick Grimond, CEO of 21^st Century, commented: “We are thrilled that EcoManager has won this award in the face of stiff competition and our congratulations go to Arriva and Merseytravel who sponsored this project. A number of copy-cat products have entered the market since we launched EcoManager, but we believe that through continuous investment in improvements, EcoManager remains the market leader. EcoManager was specifically developed for the bus market and generates the most pertinent information about driving styles and fuel consumption. Utilising a driver identification system, which does not rely on the driver remembering to separately log on to the monitor at the start of his shift, ensures the integrity of the reports generated and sets EcoManager apart from the competition.”

The lunchtime ceremony was compered by BBC Economics Editor, Stephanie Flanders and the prizes were presented by Anthony Smith, chief executive of consumer watchdog Passenger Focus.

Exclusive to 21st Century, EcoManager combines fuel saving technology with a real time drivers LED providing instant efficiency feedback with fully automated reporting by driver, displayed to managers in an easy to use traffic light reporting system with the most and least efficient drivers displayed in green and red respectively.

Trials of fuel saving technologies across Europe have shown that companies could reduce fuel consumption by up to 30% per annum. Applying even a modest 10% fuel saving on average, could save bus and coach operators a significant amount in addition to reducing their carbon footprint.

Furthermore, the reduction in fuel consumption has a direct impact on the fleet’s carbon footprint. For every litre of diesel saved, the environment is spared 2.75 kg of carbon.

EcoManager works by monitoring and reporting on drivers’ habits and highlighting areas where fuel is being wasted and training may be required. EcoManager also provides drivers with a live LED display highlighting their driving style, which changes from green to amber to red according to their efficiency.

As well as the fuel savings, EcoManager improves driver and passenger safety because it encourages drivers to be more aware of their driving habits. Better driving reduces excessive wear and tear – thereby also reducing maintenance costs.

EcoManager uses data such as distance travelled, MPG and revs per minute. This data can be combined with data from the ticket machine such as driver id, route, stage and fare class. All vehicle data is then displayed in the management reports.

Reports are automatically transferred to the depot through EcoManager and the 21st Century ProGuard CCTV system, providing a fully automatic daily report on driver efficiency. Reports can be used to advise drivers on how to drive on the most efficient ways and re-train drivers to more economic methods.

The in-cab LED provides instant and continuous feedback to the driver based on the fuelling condition, RPM and pedal position. This has been proven in tests to be the most effective way to instantly correct driver behaviour and immediately increase fuel efficiency and reduce costs.

EcoManager from 21^st Century combines fuel saving technology with a real-time driver’s indicator which provides instant feedback on how efficient their driving is.  The system also provides fully automated by driver reporting, which is displayed to managers in easy to use software with the most and least efficient drivers displayed in green and red respectively.

EcoManager uses data such as distance travelled, MPG and revs per minute. This data can be combined with data from the ticket machine such as driver ID, route, stage and fare class. All vehicle data is then displayed in the management reports.

Drivers who require additional training can be identified through the comprehensive reporting system and 21^st Century has developed a four-tier training programme to work alongside the software to maximise the benefits and help maintain savings.

As well as the fuel savings, EcoManager improves driver and passenger safety because it encourages drivers to be more aware of their driving habits. Better driving reduces excessive wear and tear – thereby also reducing maintenance costs.

The system is already in use by more than 600 drivers, and operators are saving an average of more than £2,000 per vehicle.