When it comes to bus and truck fleet efficiency, low fuel consumption and component wear play a critical role in fleet management. The contribution Voith is making to this with its products and services is on display at this year’s IAA show. The company’s highlights include the DIWA.6 automatic transmission with Stop-Start Technology, a version of its secondary water retarder than can be disconnected and the new air compressors with TwinSave technology or coupling. Visitors can learn more about innovative solutions including real-time support for drivers, optimized maintenance management for operators as well as remanufacturing of transmissions and retarders. Voith is showcasing its capabilities at Hall 17, Booth A14.
DIWA.6 Stop-Start Technology: Ready for the Road
The numbers speak clearly. City buses in regular operation spend up to 40 percent of its operating time in idling mode due to bus stops, red lights and heavy traffic. This translates into unnecessary fuel consumption while also increasing pollution and noise emissions. Voith has extended the features of the successful DIWA.6 automatic transmission with Stop-Start functionality so that bus operators can increase the profitability of their vehicles while also providing added value for the environment. The DIWA.6 is capable of stop times up to 60 seconds without any influence on the start-up readiness of the bus. Depending on the duty cycle, this enables fuel savings of 10-12 percent. More than 200 buses are successfully using DIWA.6 Stop-Start in Great Britain and this has been going on for more than a year already.
ECO-SWR: A Dis-connectable Secondary Water Retarder
Another highlight is the secondary water retarder (SWR) for which Voith develops a version that can be disconnected from the driveline. The SWR was designed as a secondary retarder for buses and trucks. It brakes with water and uses the engine coolant. In this way, it does not need any additional operating medium and handles up to 90 percent of all vehicle braking actions wear-free. Furthermore, the retarder technology induces the driver to drive with anticipation which, in conclusion, reduces fuel consumption. However, there are energy losses, even if no continuous braking power is used, due to the constantly moving rotor. With a coupling, Voith disconnects the rotor from the driveline ensuring in the future that, when the retarder is not required, no power is consumed. The disconnecting capability further reduces fuel consumption of the vehicle, which goes hand in hand with lower CO2 emissions. In light of the EU Commission’s plans to introduce mandatory CO2 emission limits for trucks and buses in Europe over the medium term, the ECO-SWR from Voith comes at just the right time.
Air Compressors With ‘TwinSave’ Technology or With a Coupling
Two innovations aimed at increasing the efficiency of operating air compressors are also celebrating its premier at the IAA. Voith has displayed a prototype of the new LP 560 air compressor equipped with ‘TwinSave’ technology. An additional control valve in the second compressor stage permits additional energy savings when idling as well as a closed pressure line with an external control. Thus, the technology uses both stages to save energy. In applications requiring a through shaft on the air compressor, savings of up to 25 percent can be achieved compared to today’s industry-wide reference standard; Voith’s SLS idle system.
For applications without a through shaft on the air compressor, Voith will equip several compressor types with an integrated coupling in the future. The component is installed directly in the gear of the compressor. Consequently, no additional installation space is needed. This saves up to 45 percent compared to the SLS.
Optimum Vehicle Use and Predictive Maintenance
At IAA, Voith is presenting its automotive service with strong innovation impulses coming from the newly founded Digital Solutions group division. Based on the established telemetry system DIWA SmartNet, the portfolio was extended by the SmartAssist and SmartMaintenance product families in its newest generation. SmartAssist informs the driver in real time about his driving behaviour, provides tips for possible improvements and supplies corresponding reports for the fleet management. In addition, Smart Maintenance uses a simple traffic light system to provide monitoring of the driveline. This enables a predictive and cost saving maintenance approach. Vehicle availability is increased and breakdowns are avoided as bus operators know the exact condition of the transmission.
Remanufacturing: Used Components in New-Build Quality
In addition to the digital service solutions, fleet operators will learn how remanufacturing allows them to considerably reduce their expenses when exchanging components without compromising on quality or reliability. With its service network Voith reconditions used units and brings them up to the latest technical and mechanical state. Whether it is a retarder, air compressor or automatic transmission including the electronics and control unit, at the end of the process, there is a product with new-build quality and with the full factory warranty. As many parts are reconditioned and reused in this process, operators not only save costs with remanufacturing, they also contribute to protecting the environment.
With locations throughout the world, Voith keeps the distances short and ensures replacement parts are available fast, even at short notice. For maintaining the familiar component reliability, quality thereby takes top priority. This means, with a replacement, only tested genuine parts are used. Non-genuine parts often wear out considerably faster and, as a result, force the entire vehicle back into the workshop long before the planned service interval. For the operator, this means an unplanned shutdown resulting in multiplied costs.