WABCO Holdings Inc., a leading global supplier of technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, showcased its continued technology leadership in vehicle efficiency that helps manufacturers and operators of trucks, buses and trailers to increase fuel economy and reduce operational costs globally.
“WABCO continues to pioneer vehicle efficiency technologies that address diverse customer needs globally, including fleet management solutions,” said Jacques Esculier, WABCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “For example, a truck equipped with all of WABCO’s efficiency technologies can improve fuel economy by more than 10 per cent, while our green solutions also reduce vehicle weight and optimize energy recovery, resulting in lower operating cost and fewer emissions over the lifetime of the vehicle.”
“WABCO’s differentiation in vehicle efficiency is also rooted in our global connectivity to deliver competitive, value-based solutions in mature and emerging markets alike,” said Esculier. “At IAA 2014, we are once again showing how WABCO’s technology leadership is grounded in our unmatched ability to anticipate the efficiency and environmental needs for tomorrow’s trucks, buses and trailers in different regions of the world.”
WABCO continues to address increasing demand from original equipment manufacturers and large-scale fleets to help produce trucks, buses and trailers that are more cost-efficient, cleaner and greener. Following are highlights from WABCO’s portfolio of “industry firsts” and major innovations that improve vehicle efficiency and environmental performance on display at the show:
New FuelGuard Lean – electronically controlled air processing unit (EC-APU) – enables superior fuel efficiency through optimal energy recuperation during the engine’s overrun phases. It marks the industry’s first integration of compressor control on the electronic control unit (ECU) of the anti-lock braking system (ABS), eliminating necessity and expense of an ECU for air management, which reduces system cost.
Breakthrough c-comp clutch air compressors – this advanced technology optimally disengages a truck or bus compressor from the engine when air delivery is not needed. WABCO’s c-comp clutch compressor, combined with new FuelGuard Lean EC-APU, increases fuel economy up to 2 per cent annually on long-haul applications.
Next generation h-comp high-output compressor technologies – designed fully in aluminum, these uniquely engineered air compressors weigh 50 per cent less than similarly performing conventional compressors, enabling further fuel efficiency or increased payload.
New Wheel End solution – combines lightweight safety products engineered to reduce complexity for truck and trailer makers worldwide. Designed as a fully integrated system, WABCO’s Wheel End includes MAXX 22, the industry’s lightest and highest performing single-piston air disc brake; industry-leading WABCO actuator technology, brake disc and hub. A simplified blend of vehicle safety and efficiency, WABCO’s Wheel End can be optimally adapted per vehicle platform for each customer, leading to weight savings of up to 10 per cent.
New OptiTire – WABCO’s next generation of tire pressure monitoring (TPM) for trucks and trailers is the industry’s first TPM system that allows vehicle builders to choose either external or internal wheel sensors for the tractor as well as for the trailer. Unlike an external sensor, an internal sensor also tracks the tire’s temperature, which improves pressure monitoring accuracy. By adding temperature data, OptiTire enhances early leakage detection, which helps to improve vehicle maintenance and up-time. In addition, WABCO’s new OptiTire system is fully compatible with trailer telematics solutions, which depending on vehicle and system configuration, allow for direct communication between the driver, vehicle and fleet manager regarding a suite of real-time vehicle operating data. WABCO’s new OptiTire system increases fuel economy up to 2 per cent and extends a tire’s lifetime as OptiTire continuously supports keeping tire pressure at recommended gauge on the widest range of commercial vehicles.
Innovative OptiFlow SideWings – This unique patented flow-conductor is specially contoured to optimize the airflow around and underneath the trailer, reducing air resistance. Made of robust but lightweight material, OptiFlow SideWings have proven on test tracks and on the road to increase fuel economy up to 5 per cent at highway speed.
Industry award-winning OptiDrive – automated manual transmission (AMT) technology increases fuel economy up to 5 per cent through optimized gear shifting. OptiDrive, a breakthrough in AMT technology, and WABCO’s other advanced AMT technologies, continue to be rapidly adopted globally among major manufacturers of transmissions, trucks and buses, particularly in emerging markets. OptiDrive increases vehicle efficiency while also improving driver effectiveness and vehicle safety as it frees drivers from frequent clutch and gear-shift actuation.
In addition to the efficiency technologies, WABCO also displayed its wide range of safety technologies including OnGuardPLUS (advanced emergency braking system (AEBS)), advanced Hydraulic ABS with ESCsmart (latest generation of hydraulic anti-lock braking system (ABS)), Enhanced OnLane (camera-based lane departure warning system), Breakthrough mBSP (modular braking system platform), next generation TailGUARD (advanced driver assistance system) and fleet management solution TX-ECO at the show.