Wabco,
a leading global supplier of CV technologies, has demonstrated its OptiDrive
system, advanced automated manual transmission (AMT) technology for trucks and
buses at its test track in Chennai. Wabco’s AMT systems are available from 5 to
16 speed applications, including its breakthrough OptiDrive modular AMT system,
according to a company press release.
“Wabco
expects to satisfy growing market demand and to expand its base of customers
for AMT systems in India, which currently includes original equipment
manufacturers and fleets,” said P. Kaniappan, Managing Director, WABCO India,
adding that “WABCO has been working on AMT programs in India with major
commercial vehicle manufacturers for their respective truck and bus platforms,
and we believe our industry in India could benefit greatly from adopting this
technology more broadly.”
Wabco’s
OptiDrive technology automatically engages the vehicle’s clutch and gear shift
actuation. It takes into account the driver’s operation, engine torque, vehicle
load and road inclination, resulting in optimised gear shifting, which
increases fuel economy up to 5pc for trucks and buses in congested city traffic
and on long hauls alike.
The
AMT systems also free drivers from frequent shifting, reducing their stress and
fatigue, while allowing drivers to further concentrate on traffic conditions.
Optimized gear shifting improves driver effectiveness, particularly among less
experienced drivers, and it enables more and better qualified drivers.
“OptiDrive
shows Wabco’s technology leadership in automated manual transmissions as it
continues to gain acceptance globally among makers of trucks, buses and
transmissions, particularly in Asia and North America,” said Leon Liu, Wabco
President, Asia. “Wabco pioneered our industry’s first AMT system in 1986 in
Europe where today more than 60pc of trucks adopt AMT solutions, and Wabco is
further differentiated as we still remain our industry’s only independent
supplier of compressed air-powered AMT systems,” he further said.
In
addition, the AMT solutions reduce wear on transmission components, lowering
maintenance costs over the vehicle’s lifetime. Optimized gear-shifting also
reduces emissions, resulting in an environmentally cleaner footprint for
fleets.
Wabco
has sold more than 2 million AMT systems worldwide since its introduction.
Recently,
Wabco has partnered with a number of major commercial fleet operators in India,
to newly develop as well as retrofit AMT solutions, including trials on buses.
For example, VRL Logistics, one of India’s leading transport companies, tested
Wabco’s OptiDrive system for six months on two buses.
Source: Wabco / Picture for
representation purpose only: Tata Prima race at Greater Noida: Photography Mohd
Nasir