Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/339485
22 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JULY 2014 D etroit Diesel Corp. unveiled its Integrated Detroit Powertrain featuring its DD15 engine, DT12 transmis- sion and Detroit axles. The package will be available January 2015 for the Freightliner Cascadia Evolution and later next year for the new Western Star 5700. For the IDP, the DD15 offers a new downspeed rating of 400 hp and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque, which the company says enables the engine to turn at lower rpms regardless of road speed, reduc- ing fuel consumption and friction while delivering the necessary torque at lower rpms. "Downspeeding improves fuel economy by shifting usable power and torque to a lower rpm range," says Brad Williamson, manager of engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. "You're going to get usable torque and power at about 970 rpm. It's not taking away the power (drivers) are used to having – it's just shifting it to a different spot in the calibration." The IDP DD15 engine also features a six-blade fan to cut parasitic loss. The DT12 transmission features the company's Intelligent Powertrain Management, which uses preloaded terrain maps and GPS to know the route ahead and automatically adjust transmis- sion and engine functions. Features include eCoast, a technology specific to the DT12 that allows the engine to operate at idle of 500 rpm when road and driver inputs don't require engine power to move the truck down the road; and creep mode, which improves low-speed maneuver- ability. "Whether approaching a grade, cresting a hill or traveling along rolling hills, Intelligent Powertrain Management makes sure the truck is carrying the most efficient momentum into the road ahead," Williamson says. "The DT12 transmission is the critical link between the engine and the axles, and with the addition of the IPM, we are providing a seamless solution that has a direct impact on fuel savings." With the new offering, Detroit now has a 6-by-2 configu- ration with a 2.28 ratio specifically designed to work with the downspeed engine rating, making it the fastest ratio available in Freightliner and Western Star trucks. The 6-by-2 config- uration incorporates a nondriven tag axle on the tandem, reducing total weight by almost 400 pounds, while a new 2.41 ratio in its 6-by-4 axle configuration also is available for applications requiring more traction. The IDP also includes steer axles that use low-friction needle bearings for added maneuverability and minimal maintenance. David Hames, DTNA's general manager of marketing and strategy, says the IDP's launch was the next step in the company's quest for better fuel economy. "We have an internal target of achieving 5 percent fuel economy (savings) every two years," Hames says. "IDP is another 5 to 7 percent, depending on baseline, over the Cascadia Evolution." – Jason Cannon M eritor announced it is working on an electronic control system designed to enhance gear efficiencies inside its truck axles. At a press briefing at Meritor's Cameri Axle Plant outside of Milan, Italy, Chief Axle Engineer Fabio Santinato told North American truck journalists about the 17X LogicDrive system, which he says currently offers significant enhancements in fuel economy for trucks in long-haul applications. At its core, the 17X LogicDrive concept is simple. Oil in an axle has two basic functions: to lubricate and cool the internal gearing system. But a phenomenon called "oil splash" inside the axle forc- es an engine to work harder and burn more fuel to turn the gears, causing a parasitic horsepower loss. Santinato says Meritor engineers currently are working with several 17X LogicDrive prototypes that will use electronic control modules to add or reduce oil in the axle to meet driving condi- tions and enhance fuel economy. The ECM modules continuously monitor operating variables such as temperature, torque, vehicle speed and braking demands. When the truck is at highway cruise speeds and less oil is needed to lubricate and cool the internal gears, the system pulls oil out of the housing and stores it in a holding tank. When more oil is needed – such as when climbing a grade or in heavy braking situations – the system automatically adds oil to the housing. Santinato says the system, which is still in development, already is demonstrating a fuel economy improvement of 0.5 percent compared to conventional truck axle systems. – Jack Roberts Detroit unveils new fully integrated powertrain Meritor announces 'intelligent' truck axle system project Detroit's Integrated Detroit Powertrain features its DD15 engine, DT12 transmission and Detroit axles.