P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR

P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR
Voltar

A little more intelligence

The progress of electronics allows the installation of automatic transmissions in heavy vehicles, reducing fuel consumption and ensuring more comfort and safety to the operators

To follow the progressin legal standards of fuel and emissions, the technologic evolution of heavy vehicles is demanding intensified efforts of part and system suppliers. Every time a new step is reached, diesel propellers have to be improved even more in a way to ensure that all this set of regulations would result in power trains with more efficiency, toughness, productivity and consequent profitability.

This is the case of intelligent automatic transmissions, which started to have higher acceptance in the Brazilian market, mainly after the introduction of the new Euro V engines.For example, thethird generation of automatic transmission model 3500 from Allison Transmission received the most modern technologies related to electronic controls, speed selection by buttons and even inclinometer, which calculates the angle of riding or downhill slopes, adjusting speed changes and improving the efficiency of operation.

These news were presented at the M&T Expo in2015, equipping the mixer truck 26.280 6x4from MAN, designed for concrete applications.“The partnership with MAN allowed us to produce the first automatic truck to be used for concrete transport in Brazil”, says Antonio Carlos Novaes, marketing manager of Allison for South America.“It is not possible to estimate figures yet, but we already know that—as occurred in Europe—showing this type of technology may ensure its acceptance in the market. Equipment is bought only by people who test and approve equipment. We already had this experience before with other technologic innovations.”

DEMAND

One of the main reasons which contribute to increase the sales of this type of technology is the possibility of inhibiting drivers’ excesses, helping at the same time each operating necessity of construction.Considered anespecially heavy activity that faces difficult paths and accesses to the works with rough terrains and steep slopes, it challenges operators to overpass many difficulties in their day-to-day operations. “When transporting concrete, automatic transmissions in truck mixers may, for example, allow higher average speeds and ensure higher productivity with no additional cost for the owner”, highlights Allison’s executive.

According to him, the increase of the average speed is directly proportional to the time saved during each change of speed.An automatic transmission allows the speed shift with no interruption of the power flow to the tractive wheels. Manual transmissions need an average time of two seconds—interrupting the power flow—to carry out each shift”, exemplifiesNovaes. “Thus, a vehicle with this type of technology may operate up toone more hour per day, time that may be used for additional cycles.”

The lack of clutch in trucks equipped with automatic transmission also reduces significantly maintenance costs and time lost with vehicle in the shop. Operation without speed shifting also reduces engine and transmission wears. In places with more irregular, slippery or extremely soft terrains—common features in workplaces—the “Allison Continuous Power” technology allows the power train to transfer power and torque to the driving wheels in a smooth and effective way. “Truck mixers equipped with automatic transmission are also easier to operate in confined areas, have higher climbing capacity, are better to control in steep terrains and make easy the start in slopes”, says him.

The executive says that there are no estimations about the potential of Brazilian market. But he expects to increase sales of automatic transmissions models 2000 (light trucks), 3000 (concrete and garbage mixers) and 4000 (firemen, mining and others)during the next years. “Ourclients already started to carry out product demonstrations and got immediate acceptance, mainly when they notice that the life of the entire power train increases and the total maintenance cost of the vehicle decreases”, saysNovaes.