The Caterpillar Institute (CIVT) recently conducted a number of case studies to determine the possible fuel savings that could result following the delivery of the Caterpillar ECO Operator Training Course. The case studies were conducted at a number of quarries in Victoria and Queensland.

The course aims to educate experienced operators about best practice techniques that can contribute to increased fuel efficiency, an increase in engine working life, savings in service cost, improved safety and a reduced carbon footprint. The heavy equipment covered in the course includes excavators, wheel loaders, off highway trucks, articulated dump trucks, dozers and track-type tractors.

Richard Beard, Senior Operator Trainer for CIVT for the last four years, said that the Caterpillar ECO Operator course looks at the way that the operators run the machine and identifies different techniques to improve their capabilities, which results in lower fuel consumption and less emissions into the environment. “The idea of this training is to make the operators aware that they can run the machine more efficiently to achieve fuel reduction without sacrificing productivity.”

The Caterpillar Institute website now has a fuel savings calculator, which asks for a few figures about your current fuel consumption and instantly calculates your estimated annual fuel saving in litres, dollars and carbon reduction.

 

 Table 1   The data gathered from CIVT’s case studies suggest significant cost savings in fuel consumption from Caterpillar ECO Operator Training.

 

Table 2 Based on its case data, using a typical Caterpillar 980G or 980H wheel loader, CIVT has estimated the cost savings that could be achieved in a year, assuming 10 hours operating days, a five-day working week and a 52-week working year.

 

For further information about the Caterpillar ECO Operator Training programme, contact Caterpillar

Institute (Vic-Tas), 03 85618700 or visit www.caterpillarinstitute.com.au