Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/565622
EquipmentWorld.com | September 2015 65 of these two components, Eaton can deliver a total package," he says. Fuel-saving spec Regardless of which design approach OEMs choose, they are convinced that integrated powertrains will remain the spec of choice for fuel-conscious fleets. "When we launched the DT12 transmission, we said it makes all the drivers in the fleet perform like experienced pros," Norton says. "Intelligent Pow- ertrain Management goes beyond what even the most experienced driver can do – by proactively preparing the powertrain for upcoming terrain that the driver may not even see." These functions can be new and different for drivers. IPM is programmed to drop speed before a hill's crest in anticipation of the upcoming down- hill. "Drivers may think their cruise control has stopped working, but IPM knows the speed will be made up on the downgrade," Norton says. "As advanced electronics and powertrain technology like this become more commonplace, it is very important for fleets and drivers to understand the benefits and let the truck perform the way it was designed." Moore says Volvo already has taken its integrated drivetrain technology to higher levels of efficiency with its new XE drivetrain. "Our eXecptional Effi- ciency package is an integrated drivetrain designed to downspeed," he says. By running at 200 rpm less at cruise speed than a comparable nonintegrated driveline, the XE package can improve fuel econ- omy by an average of 3 percent. "Nonintegrated drivelines typically are not used in downspeeding due to shifting and performance issues." Trzybinski says customer observations are critical to further enhancements. "We have been getting a lot of feedback on better and smoother shifting," he says. "As the communication between the engine and transmission keeps getting better, we are also hearing reports on vehicle performance benefits be- cause the shift decisions are more precise and more accurate. He says Eaton's other products that aren't yet as deeply integrated also benefit from these technologies, especially in terms of fuel efficiency gains. "All of these new advancements are going to have a positive effect on everybody," he says.