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MOTORINDIA
l
January 2012
Torotrak-Allison transmission
project progresses to next stage
Gearless traction drive
company Torotrak PLC is
progressing to the next stage
in its programme with Al-
lison Transmissions Inc, the
world’s largest supplier of
automatic gearboxes for mid-
to large-size commercial ve-
hicles. The programme has
moved through an important
milestone that has proved the
transmission’s required per-
formance on concept hard-
ware. The next phase of the
programme will develop pro-
totypes of a fully representa-
tive production design.
Having completed an ex-
tensive process of knowledge
transfer to Allison personnel,
Allison Transmissions will
lead the programme towards
production of transmissions
while Torotrak provides on-
going specialist technical sup-
port and engineering consul-
tancy.
Mr. Jeremy Deering, Torotrak
Commercial Director said: “Toro-
trak has re-shaped its engineering
delivery structure over the last six
months to provide the most relevant
support as programmes such as Al-
lison’s move closer towards com-
mercialisation. Helping develop the
production supply chain for impor-
tant variable drive components, such
as the discs, rollers and traction flu-
products & components
“Torotrak’s completion of a substan-
tial proof-ofconcept programme with
Allison allows the programme to enter
the next phase, proceeding to produc-
tion-representative hardware.”
– Mr. Jeremy Deering, Torotrak Commercial Director
islative pressure to improve
fuel economy. In the US, new
regulations from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration (NHTSA) and
the Environmental Protection
Agency require heavy trucks
to achieve fuel consumption
and CO
2
emissions savings of
around 20 per cent from the
2018 model year onwards.
Affecting vehicles built and
sold in 2017, commercial
vehicle manufacturers must
move quickly to ensure they
have solutions in place.
“The new US regulations
signal a change of priority
from the legislators, shifting
the emphasis from reductions
in noxious emissions to im-
provements in fuel economy,”
commented Torotrak Chief
Executive Dick Elsy. “Toro-
trak’s variable drive technol-
ogy can help manufacturers to
improve commercial vehicle
fuel efficiency and emissions. We
know from the work to date that
Torotrak technology is most effec-
tive at saving fuel in vehicles with
stop-start duty cycles, a big part
of the commercial vehicle market.
We have a proven technology with
an appropriate timescale for intro-
duction which can be implemented
cost-effectively.”
Torotrak technology is being de-
id, is as important to success as is
the disciplined engineering staged
approach and forensic attention to
detail in planning. We are engaged
with a number of suppliers with a
view to establishing relationships to
support Torotrak licensees.”
The timing of the programme
means Torotrak’s technology could
be part of the commercial vehicle in-
dustry’s response to the growing leg-