The Indian CV market’s shift to BS-IV paved way for the introduction of electronic engines which has in turn presented a perfect platform for suppliers to bring in advanced technologies such as Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) and other add-ons to enhance the experience of fleet customers. While the AMT penetration in the Indian CV market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent during the period 2016-2020, strict environment regulations and a surge in demand for fuel efficient vehicles are propelling the AMT market for CVs at a global level.
WABCO OptiDrive is the only modular AMT solution available in the Indian CV industry that has been designed to benefit fleets by improving fuel efficiency and enhancing driver comfort. OptiDrive is an award-winning modular transmission automation technology that can be easily adapted to a wide range of existing manual gearboxes and provides an alternate cost-effective and reliable solution for CVs. It combines comfort and ease-of-use of an automatic transmission with the efficiency of a manual transmission and is engineered as a modular system.
The OptiDrive frees the driver from shifting gears and depressing the clutch, hence enabling him give full attention to the road. The transmission interacts with other vehicle control systems like ABS & ESP, resulting in a significant improvement in the overall safety of the vehicle. In addition, it also simplifies vehicle handling and increases driver comfort, enabling comfortable, smooth and safe driving like an automatic transmission.
The development time required for vehicle and transmission makers to apply OptiDriveTM to their platforms is only 50 per cent when compared to the integrated AMT used by global OEMs. It is expected that truck and bus ranges from major OEMs equipped with WABCO OptiDrive AMT will be available in the Indian market by 2019-20.
OptiDrive automatically engages the vehicle’s clutch and gear shift actuation. It takes into account the driver’s operation, engine torque, vehicle load and road inclination, resulting in optimized gear shifting, which increases fuel economy up to five per cent for trucks and buses in congested city traffic and on long hauls alike. In addition, the AMT solution reduces wear on clutch and transmission components and lowers maintenance costs over the vehicle’s lifetime. Optimized gear-shifting also reduces emissions, resulting in an environmentally cleaner footprint for fleets.
WABCO has developed a single product platform to cater to the need of multiple driveline/vehicle platforms of various OEMs. Considering a market like India, where time and cost are considered crucial factors, this definitely makes the whole modular system unique when compared to others.
OptiDrive Key Features
- Gear optimization through WABCO’s proprietary software algorithm; results in improved performance in terms of drivability and fuel economy.
- Significantly reduces mechanical wear which cuts maintenance costs and lowers vehicle downtime
- Option of retro-fitment in released vehicles
- System modularity allows easy adaptation to existing gearboxes.
- Minimises space requirements at the gearbox and is available for five-speed up to 18-speed applications.
- Designed for constant and synchromesh gearboxes; offers a wide range of driver functions.
- Improves safety by interacting with other vehicle control systems like ABS & ESP.