LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Eaton Corp. executives said the company has launched a new version of its UltraShift Plus automated manual transmission exclusively for Navistar Inc., designed to maximize fuel efficiency in linehaul applications.
To be released jointly by the two companies, the new 16-speed direct-drive AMTs are designed with a small 17% step between gears to optimize time in a diesel engine’s most efficient RPM zone and help reduce fuel consumption, company officials said here at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The transmission’s direct-drive design “boosts the efficiency of the transmission gear train to further promote excellent fuel consumption,” said Shane Groner, North America product planning manager for Eaton’s commercial vehicle transmission division.
“Fuel economy is the name of the game,” Groner told Transport Topics following a press conference at the annual trucking show.
The company said that all the other features and benefits of its UltraShift Plus are included in the newest addition to its lineup.
The new UltraShift Plus LSE — for linehaul small-step efficiency — units will be released initially with Navistar’s proprietary MaxxForce 13-liter selective catalytic reduction engines on International brand vehicles, and followed shortly thereafter with Cummins ISX15 engines, Eaton said.
“Fuel economy has been the cornerstone of the International ProStar [tractor], and with the collaboration with Eaton on the 16-speed direct-drive automated transmission, we’re able to deliver even more tangible fuel economy benefits to our customers,” said Steve Gilligan, Navistar’s vice president of marketing.
Eaton executives also said at the press conference that the company’s recently announced engine-transmission package with Cummins was “getting a lot of attention from fleets.”
