(12 Nov 2017, 12:02 pm)Multi21 wrote This is due to a computer program called "Econospeed". You may have heard some drivers complaining about it.

What it does is, it limits acceleration when pulling away, limits the amount of kickdown a driver can use and the top speed is also limited. The main problem is when it reaches the top speed (which on most is 53mph) if you push beyond the limited it will let you for about 3 seconds then drops the speed back to 45mph.

Mercedes/Daimler designed this program so as you can imagine it works as designed on Mercedes products most solos are fitted with it. On VDL products it just doesn't work which is why passengers feel the difference between one that's fitted with it and one that's not.

Any more questions PM me.

The Econospeed is a weird thing. In Pulsars if you try to engage kickdown whilst on the move (or the bus tries to do it itself) you find that the bus will jerk between gears. However, if you pull away engaging kickdown it works fine and without the jerking. It would be interesting to see if this jerking causes additional wear and tear to components such as gearboxes. In a vehicle such as a Solo or Enviro 200 when they are working fine (not in limp mode) then I don't feel you can tell that the system is in place. Our Volvo B7/Alx 400 at Durham don't have Econospeed stickers so I am unsure if its fitted (however these are limited to 50mph anyway).

When I did my training at Ashington, they didn't have Econospeed turned on as 'buses which used high speed roads were unable to keep to their timetables.' I am unsure if Ashington have it activated or not.

Limp mode, does significantly reduce power to the vehicle - the E200's we have at Durham are an example of this. I was once heading towards Gilesgate after coming around the roundabout at the bottom of the A690/Claypath and my bus was in limp mode. I had a full standing load and it was so slow going up the hill, the speed didn't even register on the speedo. The main reason I have found for limp mode is emissions light. However, I have had other warning lights which have triggered limp mode such as an oil light.