As many of you are aware, I’ve been driving the new 2016 Cascadia Evolution for a month’s now. This truck feature the new Detroit DD15 down sped engine DT12 automated manual transmission 2.28 final drive axle ratio. Additional features of this truck include a 6x2 rear axle configuration, Detroit Assurance Collison mitigation system and Intelligent Powertrain Management.
I am sure that many of you are anxious to hear the updated reports in regards to fuel mileage on this new truck. Over the last few months, I’ve only driven one time on my normal run from Charlotte, NC to Laredo, TX. The reason for this is that the Cascadia Evolution has been very popular with the various nationwide Freightliner Truck Dealers. Many dealers have been keeping my calendar busy as they are requesting for me to bring the new truck to their locations in order to conduct demonstrations for their customers. This type of driving is not conducive to producing great fuel mileage numbers. A day for me will include driving 100 – 200 miles between dealerships. When I arrive, it’s time to give
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The new Detroit DD-15 Downsped engine is a low rpm torque monster . |
demonstrations rides to potential buyers. This usually involves a lot of stop and go, in town driving and demonstrating just how the truck performs when driven properly/improperly.
The fuel mileage on this truck has been impressive considering the adverse conditions which it’s been put through lately. Here are all the fill ups as calculated by miles divided by gallons. 9.849, 8.973, 9.04, 9.07, 9.188, 9.113. The one fill up from my regular run was 10.535 and finally back on demo runs was 9.09. Gross vehicle weights came in at 54k, 72k, 62k, 59k, 68k, 64k, and 63k. These weights were not set for any specific reason they simply were what the freight weighed at the time. A large portion of the routes involved driving through parts of West Virginia and over the Appalachian Mountains.
The numbers above are pretty good considering the type of driving that has taken place. I will keep all of you posted as we await future figures on my new 2016 Cascadia Evolution.