Linear model for fuel optimizing speed on roads connecting Lafia metropolis to neighbouring communities

Abstract

Fueling cost represents a very significant portion of vehicle maintenance cost. For some vehicle it takes up to 50% of the total maintenance cost. Fuel consumption has been established to depend largely on factors like vehicle characteristics, highway characteristics and the attitudes of drivers. In this study, a real time fuel consumption model was developed for the 5 major roads connecting neighboring communities to Lafia metropolis. In most of these communities over speeding in a bid to minimize fuel consumption is paramount and this study was designed to experimentally arrive at fuel minimizing speed for these roads. To develop the model, a large speed fuel experiment involving more than 1000km of driving was carried out for a speed range of 40km/h to 120km/h using a Toyota corolla car with fittings to take instantaneous data of fuel consumption and road characteristics. A model was constructed for fuel consumption as a function of speed and number of applied brake. The full speed equation for each of these roads was minimized to yield a range of numerical values for optimal fuel for each road. These equations are found to be consistent and within the neighbourhood of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) minimal fuel speed of the used vehicle.

Keywords: Optimal fuel consumption; road characteristic; vehicle characteristics.