What is platooning?
Truck platooning consists of two or more vehicles safely and closely following each other. Driving in a networked truck convoy (platoon) helps to reduce CO2 emissions and increases traffic safety.
Improved safety and fuel efficiency
Electronically linked truck convoys offer new opportunities for more economical and efficient road transportation: Slipstream driving can reduce the fuel consumption of the entire platoon by up to ten percent. CO2 emissions are equally reduced.
Linking the vehicles via an electronic towing bar can also increase traffic safety for freight road transport. This is due to the fact that the control systems of the trailing vehicles can reliably react to the manoeuvres of the lead vehicle, and do so much quicker than any human could. The traffic infrastructure is also used much more efficiently as the trucks are driving at a distance of only about 10 meters from each other.
MAN is leading the way
To make the platooning concept reality, MAN has combined its expertise in current on-board assistance and control systems with innovative car-to-car communication. Our test vehicles have already covered thousands of kilometres as a platoon.
Today, our networked trucks are undertaking regular test drives in actual operation with professional drivers from DB Schenker. At the same time, we are contributing to researching and preparing the legal and organisational requirements in Germany and Europe for everyday use of networked truck convoys in road traffic. From a technical standpoint, it is conceivable that the platooning concept could be implemented in Europe by 2020.
