Peloton
Peloton
Peloton is an automated vehicle technology company that utilizes vehicle-to-vehicle communications and radar-based active braking systems, combined with sophisticated vehicle control algorithms, to link pairs of heavy trucks. The safety systems are always active, and when the trucks are out on the open road, they can form close-formation platoons. The system controls braking and acceleration, similar to adaptive cruise control, and drivers remain fully engaged and retain steering control. The dramatic reduction in aerodynamic drag in these platoons provides unprecedented fuel economy savings for both the trailing and the leading truck. A real-time video link lets the rear driver see the road ahead of the platoon. The more extensive data flowing from the trucks also allows new levels of diagnostics and prognostics, while empowering better drivers and stronger fleet management.
MAKING SAFE DRIVERS SAFER
Frontal collisions are the most common accidents involving heavy trucks. Peloton’s cooperative braking prevents frontal collisions by automatically applying the brakes on both trucks - eliminating delays of human perception and reaction time for the following truck, which account for over 100ft of distance at highway speeds.
BEST-IN-CLASS FUEL SAVINGS
Fleets make money using Peloton. Leading fleet CR England verified that Peloton’s platooning technology saves more than 7% at 65mph – 10% for the rear truck and 4.5% for the lead truck. Long-haul fleets spend 40% of operating expenses on fuel, accounting collectively for over 10% of U.S. oil use and related carbon emissions. The Peloton System offers greater efficiency gains than any other aerodynamic technology for tractor-trailers, providing the industry means to save more than $6Billion of diesel fuel annually.
PLATOONING NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER
Trucks with the Peloton System are connected to the cloud. Peloton’s Network Operations Center (NOC) coordinates trucks to find linking partners on the road and enables cross-fleet platooning. Geo-fencing enables trucks to platoon only on safe roads, in safe conditions, and by safe drivers.
The unique data available from the platooning system and its sensors provide powerful contextual analytics to fleet managers, such as truck diagnostics, event capture, driver training and predictive maintenance.
BUSINESS MODEL DRIVES ADOPTION
The Peloton System is offered as a usage-based managed service, charging a per-mile fee when trucks are in platoon and saving fuel. Fleets pay a one-time fee for System hardware and installation so they can equip trucks at minimal upfront cost with a rapid payback period — as quick as a few months. The analytics and other functionality provide another, always-on, revenue stream.
PARTNERSHIPS
US DOT / Federal Highway Administration: 2013-15 funded project to optimize tractor-trailer platooning in partnership with Auburn University, Peterbilt/PACCAR, Denso, Meritor-WABCO and ATRI.
US DOE / NREL: Comprehensive SAE Type II fuel-economy validation and sensitivity testing
FLEET CUSTOMER PILOTS: Strong demand for pilot deployments of platooning and the data/analytics.
3553 Haven Ave
Menlo Park, CA
94025
