Allison’s two trail-blazing transmissions on display

TC10 & H 3000 open up new avenues for customers

Allison Transmission, the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses, unveiled its innovative hybrid truck and fully automatic road tractor transmissions at IAA 2012.

The new products, designed for new applications, further demonstrate Allison’s focus on delivering technology that helps achieve superior fuel utilization and vehicle efficiency.

Said Mr. Lawrence Love, Executive Director – International Marketing, Allison Transmission: “Allison is previewing two examples of its latest Continuous Power Technology-based transmissions to OEMs and operators.

The all-new TC10 and H 3000 products are being featured at the show, with start of production for both expected next year.”

H 3000, a unique hybrid solution

Allison is transforming commercial-duty trucking with the unique H 3000, a fully automatic, parallel hybrid system for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Based on the proven Allison 3000 Series transmission and matched with hybrid components which include a patented motor-generator and Lithium-ion battery cells, the new system is designed to offer potential improvement in fuel consumption of up to 25 per cent in a variety of truck applications, depending on the duty cycle. The design features both a torque converter and motor-generator that enables OEMs to maximize efficiency while achieving outstanding performance from smaller, less-costly engines.

The H 3000 combines Allison’s proven fully automatic transmission with innovative hybrid technology to provide smooth, uninterrupted powershift performance and superior efficiency, while the company’s new 5th Generation software assures the most energy-efficient shift strategies.

The new compact motor-generator creates a high power-to-weight ratio, capturing for reuse otherwise wasted energy during vehicle braking and later using it to assist in propulsion and to power auxiliary equipment. Use of reclaimed energy reduces the need to create more energy from the engine.

Scalable to each application, modular Lithium-ion battery packs enable optimal energy capacity to be tailored to a specific vehicle or duty cycle, allowing Allison hybrid technology to provide sufficient energy for even the most demanding vocations.

TC10 the game-changer

Combining the startability of an Allison automatic with the cruising fuel economy inherent in twin-countershaft technology, the innovative TC10 is engineered to provide the benefits of continuous, uninterrupted power to the road tractor market. The TC10 is the only technological solution of its kind, offering a new alternative to traditional automated manual (AMT) and manual transmissions.

Allison’s TC10 maximizes drivetrain efficiency at higher cruise speeds to save operators time and money; yet it is equally appropriate for city and suburban duty cycles. The fully automatic TC10 engages the torque converter only at launch, lowering the cooling requirements and protecting the drivetrain. The design incorporates twin countershafts and two-speed planetary range output section for higher average vehicle speeds. It also features helical gears for quieter operation.

Allison’s Continuous Power Technology, incorporated in the TC10, represents a combination of uninterrupted power shifts and close ratio steps, enabling axle choices that take full advantage of modern, low-speed engine efficiencies. Clutch-to-clutch shifts maintain power flow to the drive wheels, eliminating the loss of the turbo boost during shifts associated with manual and AMT transmissions.

“The TC10 is a market solution for an industry that has historically been forced to compromise driveability, reliability, productivity and performance in favor of fuel economy. We have engineered a distinctive transmission that brings all the strengths of an Allison automatic to this market, which includes achieving customers’ fuel economy expectations, ultimately providing end users with the best overall value,” added Mr. Love.