WABCO collaborates with Peloton for new truck platooning solution

WABCO, a global supplier of technologies for commercial vehicles, has collaborated with Peloton Technology, for a new solution for truck platooning, integrating commercial vehicle-to-vehicle communication and other automation technologies for improving safety, as well as fuel efficiency.

Peloton Technology is a US-based company, which develops connected and automated vehicle solutions.

Peloton chief executive officer and founder Josh Switkes said: “WABCO shares our mission of increasing safety and efficiency for fleets and other transport customers.

"Today’s announcement builds on our past work together, and we continue to be excited about the synergy with WABCO, a global technology leader in advanced driver assistance and active safety systems.

“Working with WABCO we can make trucks and drivers safer on highways whether in platoon or operating individually.”

In platooning, two or more tractor-trailers are electronically linked to form virtual road-trains on highways.

An evaluation by the North American Council on Freight Efficiency found that platooning increases fuel economy by more than 7%, namely up to 4.5% for the lead truck and up to 10% for following trucks due to improved aerodynamics.

The evaluation was further validated by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Transportation.

WABCO chairman and chief executive officer Jacques Esculier said: “We are excited to expand WABCO’s strategy to offer differentiated solutions and services that empower tomorrow’s fleets, and working with industry-leading Peloton Technology demonstrates how WABCO is mobilizing vehicle intelligence to support driving automation.”

As part of the new collaboration, WABCO will be offering its portfolio of braking, advanced stability and emergency braking systems, including predictive cruise control, and Peloton, will be providing its platooning technologies, which are currently under testing on US highways.