This document discusses the impact of driving training on fuel efficiency for Star Bus Services in Delhi, India. It finds that: 1) Training 40 bus drivers over 4 days improved their average fuel efficiency from 2.4 km/kg to over 2.5 km/kg, with 50% of drivers now getting over 2.5 km/kg efficiency. 2) Key issues identified in driver training were proper use of automatic transmissions, preventing air and oil leaks, and foot position on the accelerator. 3) Star Bus has since implemented incentives for drivers, daily monitoring, and additional trainings to continue improving efficiency across their fleet.

1. Impact of Driving Training on Fuel
Efficiency
Jaspal Singh, Consultant, Star Bus Services Private Limited

2. Impact of Driving Training on Fuel Efficiency
Star Bus Services Pvt. Ltd. (Cluster 1)
Connect Karo (People Transport Cities)
April 15, 2013

3. Delhi Transport Corporation
•State owned
•Fares set by Government
•Gets gap-funding from the Govt.
•No ITS for performance
monitoring
Private Stage Carriage Bluelines
• A few buses per owner
• Fares set by Government
• Fare box only source of revenue
• Entire market risk borne by
operator
Buses in Delhi - Earlier

4. Changing Face of Private Bus Operation in Delhi

5. Star Bus Services – Cluster details
• The company will operate 231 buses on 32
routes, mainly concentrated in South Delhi.
• 96 buses being operated so far on 5 routes
• All buses will be Low Floor – 20% air-
conditioned buses at the option of Star bus
• All buses fitted with GPS devices and
constantly monitored from Central Control
Room
• Integrated Voice Announcement System
• Training and re-training program for drivers – both
operating and behavioral.

6. Existing Operations

7. Star Bus – Performance so far
Fleet Availability (May 2011 – March 2013) - 100%
Operational Efficiency (May 2011 – March 2013) – 99.2%
Total No. of passengers carried – More than 30 Lakhs
No. of passengers per day – More than 1,000 passengers
Revenue per kilometre – Rs. 43.50
Average no. of Passengers (per bus per day) – 1,150
Fuel Efficiency – 2.4 KMKG
Star Bus operates low floor, rear engine, automatic transmission
Tata Marcopolo make buses which were procured in May 2011.

8. Depot Facilities

9. User Opinion Survey (EMBARQ India)
• 75% users find the service good and want more cluster buses to be
introduced on the route.
• 15% of the users are of the opinion that there are very less buses on the
route, while a very low percentage of users find the services poor.

10. Cost Breakup
Fuel (CNG)
50%
Drivers
15%
Maintenance
20%
Others
15%
• Similar to other public transport agencies, fuel constitutes almost 50%
of the total operating cost and thus is a major cost component.
• In the first year of operations the fuel efficiency of the buses was an
average of 2.5 km/kg. As the buses grew older, the fuel efficiency
began deteriorating and presently is approximately 2.4km/kg.

11. Key Factors Effecting Fuel Performance
There are 3 key factors which effect the fuel performance of the
buses.

12. Driver Training Workshop
• EMBARQ India through a renowned driving instructor to impart driver
training to some of the driver s of Star Bus.
• 40 drivers belonging to two routes were identified for training for
improving their fuel efficiency and safety.
• The training program was conducted from January 8-11,2013 at
Millennium Depot, Delhi, in 2 batches of 20 drivers who underwent 1
day of classroom training and 1 day of practical training along their
regular bus routes.
• The field training results which were an improvement of 50-60% over
the current fuel efficiency, pleasantly surprised the drivers themselves
who were estimating an improvement of about 10 – 20% over their
existing performance.

13. Driving Training Workshop - Photographs

14. Key Issues Identified
• An overview of automatic transmission technology of which the drivers
had very little knowledge and the time taken for the system to switch
between gears.
• Measures to prevent air leakage and engine oil leakage.
• The position of the foot on the accelerator pedal which is the prime
factor which dictates fuel efficiency
After in-depth analysis and discussion with drivers, the following
key issues were identified.

16. Improvement in Drivers’ Performance
Fuel Efficiency
(km/kg)
Number of Drivers
Post Training Pre Training
<2.0 0% 3%
2.2-2.3 11% 9%
2.3-2.4 3% 29%
2.4-2.5 24% 14%
2.5-2.6 27% 26%
2.6-2.7 16% 9%
2.7-2.8 11% 6%
2.8-2.9 5% 0%
2.9-3.0 0% 0%
>3.0 3% 6%
100% 100%
Fuel Efficiency Training has brought remarkable results in the
performance of Drivers.
• 50% of trained drivers start
getting a fuel efficiency of
more than 2.5 KMKG.
• Drivers which were getting fuel
efficiency of less than 2.0
KMKG, achieved fuel efficiency
of 2.2 KMKG.

17. Driving Training Workshop – Fuel Mileage

18. Action Taken to Save Fuel!!
• Fixing a benchmark fuel efficiency for each of the routes
• Consistently assigning the trained drivers in pairs on the 2 shifts of the
day
• Daily monitoring of data and gentle and motivational counselling of the
drivers
• Prominently advertising the most fuel-efficient driver for each month
• Announcing of an incentive program with 35% of the savings from fuel
charges to be awarded to the driver as bonus
Star Bus took the following initiatives to internalise the process of
achieving excellence.

19. Way Forward!!
With even small 10% improvement in fuel efficiency, the operator
can save 30,000 Kg CNG in a month and 360,000 Kg CNG in a Year.
• Implementation of Fuel Efficiency program for all Drivers in batches,
with support from Embarq India.
• Analysis of fuel consumption data for each driver and bus on daily,
weekly and monthly basis
• Monitoring of fuel efficiency for each driver on monthly basis.
• Organizing Training Session for drivers to adopt safe driving practices.
• Designing MIS System for maintenance of the buses, with focus on
increasing the fuel efficiency of the buses.

20. Thank You!!!