Allison Transmission announced the launch of a new fuel-efficiency package that can deliver up to 20 percent fuel savings. FuelSense features automatically adapt shift schedules and torque, maximizing transmission efficiency based on load, grade and duty cycle, without sacrificing Allison advantages fleets already depend on – superior performance and Continuous Power Technology.
“Fuel prices have nearly doubled since the mid-2000s, and fleet owners need solutions,” said Michael Headly, senior vice president, global marketing, sales and service for Allison Transmission. “They want straightforward fuel economy, without compromising overall fleet performance and productivity. With FuelSense, Allison delivers the best of both worlds.”
Of the product design, Headly advised "FuelSense incorporates hardware and software. (The product is) able to adapt by duty cycle and specific working conditions to make fuel savings automatic."
FuelSense features include:
- 5th Generation smart controls, acceleration management, and a precision inclinometer
- EcoCal shift technology to keep engine speed at the most efficient level
- Dynamic Shift Sensing to automatically sense when low-engine speed shifts can be made
- Neutral at Stop to save fuel and reduce emissions when the vehicle is stationary
Cutting fuel consumption by up to 20 percent during both testing and simulations, FuelSense features have already been integrated into Allison’s TC10 for tractors. At the joint announcement Wednesday, Freightliner executives revealed that it will be the first OEM to offer this fuel-saving solution in the North American medium-duty market, available in late 2014 in M2 chassis equipped with Allison 2000 and 3000 series transmissions.
“We are proud to be the first to offer this innovative solution to customers,” said Mary Aufdemberg, director of product marketing for Freightliner. “Our customers demand a lot from our trucks, so we set our standards high. We value our relationship with Allison and have a common commitment to maximizing the performance of work trucks and the profits of the businesses that depend on them,” she said.
According to Lou Gilbert, Allison Transmission’s director of North American marketing and global brand development, “Allison automatic transmissions are already extremely productive. FuelSense takes that efficiency to a whole new level with fuel saving technology that really delivers by adapting to driving conditions using features that have a proven impact on fuel economy.”
"Every unique duty cycle is made up of four components – no more, no less: acceleration, deceleration, stop time, cruising time," said Gilbert.
Allison conducted studies on different duty cycles -- from buses with extended stop times to to determine optimal performance.
Product details
Available on the TC10 today, packages will be available from FL in the second half of 2014 on 1000/2000/3000 Series products. “We will expand into the 4000 over time," said Gilbert.
Three versions available:
Fuel Sense
5th generation controls.
Dynamic shift sensing.
Eco-calibration.
Fuel Sense Plus
5th generation controls.
Dynamic shift sensing.
Eco-calibration.
Neutral at stop feature.
FuelSense Max
5th generation controls.
Dynamic shift sensing.
Eco-calibration.
Neutral at stop feature.
Acceleration rate management.
According to Aufdemberg, Freightliner will be offering the FuelSense Max on their products.
