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Millbrook Proving Ground is seeing a growing number of hauliers using its facilities to conduct their own fuel trials. Andrew Eastlake, head of laboratories at Millbrook, explains that this is a consequence of more operators realising that road tests have little benefit these days. "The problem with conducting fuel trials on the road is that you can't get repeatability because of changing traffic conditions," he explains. "It is therefore virtually impossible to spot a 1% or 2% difference in fuel  economy.

"This definitely isn't a problem on our tracks, which are like an outdoor laboratory." Although more operators are using the 700-acre site to pitch EGR against SCR, the vast majority of trials involve alternative fuels. Eastlake says LPG and CNG tests used to be common-place, but increasingly these days the fuels under scrutiny are various blends of bio-diesel. 

Millbrook offers various levels of testing, ranging from track rental to full access to the variable temperature emission chamber. Although operators wishing to conduct a test can do so on their own, the proving ground is keen to assist. Eastlake says Millbrook will devise a test to help you find the exact information required, help hauliers collect the data and assist in evaluating it. "Your business is logistics, and not testing trucks," says Eastlake. "I'm not a logistics expert, but I certainly know how to answer all your questions regarding how to test."