Dive into the world of fuel consumption monitoring and discover how advanced systems can transform your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Perfect for fleet managers and eco-conscious drivers.
Maximizing Mileage: The Ultimate Guide to Fuel Consumption Monitoring Systems
Maximising Mileage: The Ultimate Guide to Fuel Consumption Monitoring Systems
You turn the pages of the newspaper and quite frequently find the news – “Fuel prices hiked by some XX%,” isn’t it? Soaring fuel prices have become a global phenomenon…and one of the biggest challenges for fleet operators and transportation companies. When you manage a large fleet of vehicles, keeping fuel costs low can be intimidating, especially if you do not have efficient control over fuel management.
In addition, there are environmental norms that always keep you on your toes to reduce wastage and ensure sustainable fuel usage. Do not fret! Real-time fuel consumption monitoring can be your best bet to optimise resource utilisation, cut down costs and reduce environmental impact. In a scenario where inefficient fuel consumption accounts for 20% of your total fleet operating costs, you need cutting-edge solutions that can help reimagine the way you manage fuel usage.
Thankfully, technological advancements are paving the way for monitoring fuel consumption in real-time – improving fuel efficiency, minimising wastage and reducing carbon emissions. You can keep a tab on a wide range of factors, from fuel levels in the vehicle’s tank to total fuel consumption, engine runtime, mileage, vehicle’s location and unanticipated fuel drains or refuelling. Having this data hands-on will give you more control over fuel consumption and costs.
Escort Monitoring Systems Group is one of the pioneers in the field of highly efficient and robust fuel management solutions, bringing all your essential fleet data together – from your vehicle’s fuel levels to axle load to managing ambient conditions when transporting perishable goods.
What is Fuel Consumption Monitoring?
You must have heard the old adage “You cannot control what you don’t measure.” And this is nothing less than true for fleet fuel consumption. As a matter of fact, efficient fuel management has its foundation in accurate fuel consumption monitoring.
It is the process of tracking and analysing your vehicle’s fuel usage, providing reliable and real-time data to identify fuel thefts, optimise routes, improve the efficiency of drivers and reduce costs.
The Mechanics of Fuel Consumption Monitoring Systems
Let’s face it – fuel accounts for almost 40% of the total operating expenses for logistics & transportation companies, fleet operators and commercial vehicle owners. Keeping in view the growing incidents of fuel pilferage and soaring fuel prices globally, there is a dire need for advanced fuel consumption monitoring systems for vehicles that can help keep a hawk eye on your fuel usage and expenses.
In this section, we will help you explore different fuel consumption monitoring solutions that can provide valuable fuel usage data in real-time.
Fuel Level Sensor
Fuel level sensors are devices that measure fuel levels in vehicles, including ships, locomotives, aircraft and vessels. They are also used in industrial applications to monitor the fuel levels of stationery equipment and fuel station tanks. The sensors provide real-time data on fuel levels at any given time, enabling you to identify unauthorised drains, refuelling or pilferage.
However, traditional fuel level sensors have high deviation rates and may not provide accurate readings. Additionally, they can be easily manipulated to alter the measurements. That’s why Escort Monitoring Systems Group brings to you advanced fuel level sensors, powered by Bluetooth technology and satellite monitoring.
Our Escort TD-BLE is a wireless capacitive fuel level sensor and the first of its kind that eliminates the time-consuming, tedious and costly process of routing wires through the entire fuel system. Being wireless, it also reduces the risk of vandalism associated with tampering with the electrical wiring. It gives you complete control of the fuel tank by monitoring the fuel level and other fluids in various types of containers.
The GPS tracker forms an essential part of our fuel level sensor, facilitating efficient tracking of your vehicle’s location and speed. The tracker also records the vehicle’s accurate mileage through satellite monitoring. The sensor precisely captures fuel level readings and other metrics and transmits this data to the fleet management system via GSM for remote monitoring. So, you can track real-time fuel consumption data at any point in time from anywhere through our mobile application.
The black box function allows to keep data in the sensor memory for up to 30 days. In the case of Bluetooth connection failure TD-BLE sensor will proceed to collect the report of fuel consumption events and store it. Collected data can be downloaded within 30 days with the help of the Escort Configurator app.
CAN Bus Fuel Consumption Monitoring
The fuel monitoring system operates by linking a GPS tracking system to your vehicle’s CAN bus and gathering data from the built-in stock fuel level sensor. The CAN interface facilitates data exchange between different sensors, the vehicle’s onboard system and other external devices attached to it. If the CAN bus runs on an open data interchange protocol, it can transmit the fuel consumption readings to your remote monitoring system.
This type of monitoring system does not require any additional telematics unit or installation hassles. You can connect the GPS tracker to the CAN bus and get information on fuel consumption, motor hours, engine speed, axle load, oil pressure and other valuable readings.
But some significant limitations of the CAN bus must be kept in mind. For example, older truck models may not be equipped with CAN-Bus. Furthermore, interpreting CAN-Bus data requires specialized technical and analytical skills. Lastly, the fuel level measurement error can exceed 15-20% because the data is sourced from traditional floating fuel tank sensors. Moreover, data from the CAN Bus can occasionally be missing. All these factors indicate that CAN-Bus is not an effective method for preventing fuel theft.preventing fuel theft.
Fuel Flow Meter
A fuel flow meter is a telematics sensor that you can install on the fuel line to measure the flow of fuel inside the tank – giving you precise information on the amount of fuel consumed. Many flow meters can also measure fuel temperature and engine runtime. You can collate this information with the fuel usage data to identify potential inefficiencies in the process.
This kind of fuel consumption monitoring solution has a high accuracy level of 97% – 99%, allowing fleet managers to review fuel usage patterns, analyse efficiency and lower costs. However, unlike fuel level sensors, a flow meter cannot detect unanticipated refuelling and fuel drains of common methods such as not fully refueling the tank at the gas station or adding an admixture to the fuel. Both of these thefts can be detected by capacitive fuel level sensors, but fuel flow meter won’t be effective in these cases. However, a fuel flow meter can help when drivers siphon fuel from the return pipeline, although this requires special equipment and skills.
So, you can use it in combination with the Escort TD-BLE fuel level sensor and other peripheral devices to identify potential fuel theft.
Benefits of Implementing a Vehicle Fuel Monitoring System
A vehicle fuel monitoring system, powered by advanced technology solutions and peripheral devices, is designed to address the challenges of fuel monitoring head-on. We will take you on a rundown of the benefits of this essential fleet management component.
- Keep a tab on your vehicle’s fuel consumption with real-time usage data that can help you plan your fuel needs and manage costs.
- Fuel consumption monitoring systems for vehicles provide accurate fuel usage data, so you can optimise fuel efficiency, reduce wastage and aid in environmental conservation.
- Use Escort fuel level sensors to identify any sudden activity in the vehicle’s fuel tank such as a drop in fuel level or refuelling. As you receive an instant alert, you can take measures to prevent fuel theft and misuse.
- Monitoring your vehicle’s fuel consumption patterns can help you in efficient route planning, saving time and fuel costs too.
- Remotely monitor inefficient driving behaviours and devise strategies to improve their accountability towards fuel savings.
- Identify changes in fuel consumption patterns to detect potential issues with the vehicle’s functioning and schedule timely maintenance.
- Real-time fuel consumption data can help you reduce misuse and improve fuel efficiency, minimising emissions and stay compliant.
Choosing the Right System For Your Fleet
Selecting the right fuel consumption monitoring system can make a big difference in how you optimise your fuel usage and improve efficiency. Here are some factors you should consider to make an informed choice.
Type of fuel
This is an important factor to consider because the dielectric properties of different types of fuels tend to affect the consumption readings. If the fuel monitoring device has been calibrated to a particular type of fuel, its measurement accuracy may vary when you use it with a different fuel.
Fuel viscosity
The fuel’s thickness can significantly impact how efficiently the fuel monitoring system takes the readings. So, it is crucial that you choose a device that matches the thickness of the fuel.
Size of the fuel tank
The size of the fuel consumption monitoring device should be in line with the dimensions of the fuel tank, including its shape, length and width.
Fuel pipe diameter
If you are installing a fuel flow meter, it is crucial to consider the diameter of the vehicle’s fuel pipe. Unless the meter fits the pipe well, it may not provide accurate readings.
Key features and capabilities
Check the device for important features such as real-time fuel usage monitoring, GPS tracking, instant alerts, detailed reports, etc.
Accuracy levels
Every drop of fuel counts. So, if the fuel monitoring device deviates from accurate readings even by 1%, it would mean significant wastage and higher fuel costs in the long run. Our fuel level sensors come with a high precision level of 99.5%!
Integration and Analysis
The automotive industry is fast embracing the ‘digital,’ making fuel monitoring simpler and more efficient. Modern fuel consumption monitoring systems for vehicles can be seamlessly integrated with your existing fleet management software, facilitating remote monitoring from anywhere and at any time. The devices are powered by satellite monitoring and GSM technology, enabling seamless transmission of fuel usage data right from the fuel tank to your monitoring system.
Conclusion
With the right tools for effective fuel consumption monitoring, you can steer towards improved fuel efficiency, cost savings, reduced wastage and regulatory compliance. Selecting the right fuel monitoring device is critical and that’s where Escort Monitoring Systems Group comes in. We understand the intricacies of fuel consumption monitoring, helping you find the right fit for your fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What exactly does a fuel consumption monitoring system measure?
A fuel consumption monitoring system precisely measures the fuel usage rate and patterns of a vehicle at any given time. Our fuel level sensors go the extra mile, providing insights into unexpected fuel drains, refuelling and fuel levels in the tank.
Q. How can fuel consumption monitoring save money for my fleet?
By closely monitoring how much fuel your vehicles are consuming over their trips, you can identify ways to minimise fuel usage and eliminate inefficiencies or wastage. This will help you improve fuel efficiency, prevent misuse and reduce costs.
Q. Is it difficult to install a fuel consumption monitoring system?
Installing a fuel consumption monitoring system requires meeting certain conditions such as compatibility issues, type of fuel, size of the fuel tank, etc. The process may take some time depending on how complex your vehicle’s fuel system is.
Q. Can these systems provide real-time data?
Advanced fuel monitoring systems, powered by GPS tracking, can provide real-time data on fuel levels, total usage, vehicle location, mileage, and even pilferage.
Q. Are there fuel consumption monitoring systems available for all types of vehicles?
Fuel consumption monitoring devices can be installed in any type of vehicle, provided you choose the right system that is compatible with the vehicle’s fuel system and the type of fuel you use.
Q. How long does the installation process take?
If all preparatory tasks are completed before starting the installation, setting up the fuel sensor and GPS tracker should take no longer than three hours. This timeframe includes sensor and tank calibration, and integrating the fuel sensor with the GPS tracker.
Q. Can drilling a tank be safe?
Drilling a fuel tank is entirely safe if specific precautions are taken, such as emptying the fuel tank beforehand. It’s also crucial to release any vapors in the tank, especially if the vehicle runs on gasoline rather than diesel. Furthermore, the Escort fuel level sensor is certified for explosion protection, making it suitable for transporting explosive goods.
Q. Will drilling a tank lead to losing warranty?
Vehicle manufacturers generally offer warranties for the engine but not for the fuel tank. Additionally, the fuel tank is constructed from aluminum, making it quite delicate. As a result, fleet technicians have to replace the fuel tank every six months due to numerous incidents. Frequently, the fuel tank gets damaged when the driver maneuvers a semi-trailer over high curbs.