Pirelli Cyber Fleet passes all its dynamic tests the product will be on sale in autumn

Pirelli’s new remote system for tyre fleet management improves safety and can offer fuel savings of up to 1000 Euros per year on each vehicle product is being tested on 13 heavy goods vehicles. More than 20,000 kilometres have been covered in testing so far The electronic sensor allows the tyre to ‘talk’ to the driver and fleet manager in real time, indicating pressure and temperature Pirelli has completed the first testing phase of Cyber Fleet: the system that transmits tyre data in real time to drivers and fleet managers using electronic sensors and telemetry. The results of these tests were exclusively revealed at the Essen tyre show, where Pirelli is present from 5-8 June. Cyber Fleet optimises fleet running costs, as it allows fuel savings to be made (because correct tyre pressures reduce rolling resistance) and also saves on staff costs when it comes to maintaining tyres and checking pressures. At the same time, it guarantees an even level of wear on the tyres, which leads to increased durability. In particular, the tests carried out so far have revealed that Cyber Fleet allows a fuel saving that can be up to 1000 Euros per year for each vehicle. It is also possible to calculate the efficiency of each single vehicle – thanks to the data provided by software partner Telogis – and identify any anomalies in tyre pressure, allowing the return on investment for installing the system to be easily calculated. Tests have shown that the investment required to buy Cyber Fleet will be returned completely within just six months of use, not to mention the added safety advantages that the system brings. The tests, which were carried out using a large private municipal services fleet that transports both goods and people, got underway in April and are still running. The tests involve 13 heavy goods vehicles, including three coaches, three buses, three industrial transporters, two dustcarts and two trucks. These vehicles, running on Pirelli tyres equipped with sensors, have covered more than 20,000 kilometres so far, accumulating data that can be used for tyre management. On Pirelli’s stand at the show, it is possible to connect with those vehicles in real time to monitor tyre temperature and pressure, as well as obtain data about their journeys, thanks to sophisticated mapping software. This reveals the kilometres run and the performance of the tyres. As was announced at Pirelli’s Truck Safety Day in January, the sensor will be available on the market by the end of 2012. How the Cyber Fleet works. Together with Schrader Electronics, the world leader in onboard tyre pressure monitoring technology, Pirelli’s research and development division has created an electronic sensor that is capable of monitoring every important tyre parameter. This sensor, known as TMS (Tyre Mounted Sensor) is mounted on the inside of the tyre in order to identify it and collect all data relative to pressure and temperature. The system transmits data from the sensor in real time to both the driver and fleet manager. The whole fleet is therefore able to anticipate performance and any changes that need to be made, guaranteeing optimal safety for each vehicle. Responsibility for monitoring the data is not only down to the driver but also the fleet manager, who can ensure the safety of his entire fleet remotely. Thanks to Cyber Fleet, users have the opportunities to check that the tyre pressures are constantly correct – which is vital to optimise fuel consumption and maximise each tyre’s duration. This also means that tyre wear checks can be planned for when they are needed, with the distance covered by each tyre carefully recorded – so that safety is improved. Cyber Fleet can be used in two ways: Static solution: the sensor memorizes data relative to tyre pressure and temperature, which can be downloaded on a handheld receiver. Dynamic solution: Cyber Fleet can be integrated with the majority of telemetry systems currently available on the market and allows real time data transmission of all the relevant parameters to the fleet manager, who can save them into a database to compile reports and statistics. Through this connectivity, Cyber Fleet allows vehicles to be tracked, and mileage monitored, in the same way as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system. The system is also capable of integrating tyre data into existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, supplying them regularly in a fully automatic and secure process. Cyber Fleet is the latest innovation from Pirelli to promote sustainable mobility. The correct tyre pressure, ensured with the help of the Cyber Fleet system, allows driving precision, reliability while braking and cornering, and lower operating costs: reducing fuel consumption and extending tyre life. In particular, through monitoring tyre pressures, Cyber Fleet helps maintain optimal levels of rolling resistance, in accordance with the data displayed on the new European tyre label that will be compulsory from 1 November. In this way, the tyre’s original rating will always be maintained. In Essen Pirelli reveals for the first time the scores on the labels, which as well as rolling resistance also grade noise and wet braking. These ratings confirm the quality of Pirelli’s ecological truck tyres: Super Single ST:01 scores ‘A’ in wet braking for instance, while FH:01 scores ‘B’ in rolling resistance. By developing new tyres for vehicles designed to transport goods and people, Pirelli has made full use of all the latest technology. This guarantees the user the best possible performance, not just in terms of rolling resistance and wet grip, but also in terms of mileage and ‘retreadability’: fundamental parameters for heavy goods vehicles that are not covered by the label. At the Essen show, Pirelli is also launching a new homepage for the truck section on its company website. This highlights the products from the 01 Series, the forthcoming European tyre label, and a new section on fleet services.