The automotive congress Dritev (DRIvetrain Transmission Electrification Vehicles) offers the powertrain community an optimal platform for exchange. Every year, decision-makers, experts, and industry leaders from around the world meet in Baden-Baden, Germany. Here, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers exchange ideas and capture innovations, developments, and challenges in drive technology.
Numerous bus operators worldwide are already enjoying the benefits of Voith’s DIWA NXT automatic transmission system – especially for intercity and regional bus services. With its first mild hybrid transmission from the DIWA product family, the technology group is closing the gap between diesel-only vehicles and those with alternative drive concepts.
Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies is broadening its Endurant family of transmission series by introducing the Endurant HD V transmission. It is designed for vocational truck applications with maximum gross combination weight ratings of 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) using 9-liter, 11-liter, and the upcoming Cummins X10 engines. Maximum engine torque is 1,700 lbs.-ft. (2,300 Nm).
Updating existing rail vehicles with a modernized drivetrain helps to improve fleet efficiency while keeping costs and service interruptions down. This approach is known as “repowering”. At this year’s InnoTrans, the international trade show for transport technology, ZF and Irish Rail signed a Memorandum of Understanding about a potential new repowering project starting in 2025. The partnership revolves around ZF’s new EcoWorld 2 six-speed powershift transmission, which decreases fuel consumption, improves ride comfort and reduces maintenance efforts.
The family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is facing intense scrutiny. A reporting rule will take effect in the United States in 2026, while Europe has actually been considering a sweeping, cross-industry ban on these substances since early last year. The implications of such a ban on fluoropolymers would be particularly critical, as a discontinuation of these high-performance materials would drastically impact many industries. But what kinds of challenges would emerge in the search for adequate substitutes? This was the focus of a recent study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) in cooperation with materials experts from the Freudenberg Group.
Eaton will be displaying a number of transmissions for both traditional and electrified commercial vehicles at IAA Transportation, September 17–22, in Hannover, Germany.
Liebherr will be sharing its latest news, products, services, and innovations for the mining sector at the world’s largest mining exhibition, MINExpo International, this September. Visitors will experience over 29,000 sq. ft of Liebherr exhibits at Booth #7832. Daily masterclasses and live demonstrations will take place at the Liebherr booth each day, showcasing the company’s latest product updates and providing insights into these technologies and services with the latest information from the field.
Nowhere else in Europe were as many electric buses newly registered last year as in the UK. Out of 2,554 standard single- and double-decker buses, 1,150 were fitted with a purely electric drivetrain (BEV or FCEV). By comparison, in 2023 only 838 e-buses were registered in Germany, 743 in France, 563 in Norway and 410 in Italy. With UK bus manufacturers Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus fully embracing the VEDS (Voith Electrical Drive System), Voith has been instrumental in boosting the use of zero-emission public transport in the UK and Ireland.
Mechanical and electronic engineering continues to play a significant role in the changing transportation landscape. Areas such as connected vehicles, autonomous driving, new components and software-designed modules will push the latest EV technologies for the next ten to 15 years. Mechatronics will play a pivotal role in these advancements.
Eaton’s heavy-duty 4-speed electrified vehicle (EV) transmission was named a 2024 Automotive News PACEpilot Innovation to Watch at an awards ceremony on April 29. The recognition acknowledges post-pilot, pre-commercial innovations in the automotive and future mobility space.
As engineers, we all know how to quickly create a sketch of a gearbox or transmission using a few lines. Using maybe black for shafts, green for bearings, blue for gears and red to indicate the power flow. We do this to remember a great idea, communicate with customers or to pass time waiting at an airport.
KISSsoft emulates this approach in a much more orderly fashion. Using only the mouse, complex schematics can be drawn and edited, thereby converting the structure of a gearbox into a logical and 3D model. The schematic in the Sketcher also serves as a navigation and visualization tool and is complemented by an overview of some of the key data (e.g. module and number of teeth) of the components making up the gearbox.
Gear backlash in precision applications is a critical element of gear system performance. Too much backlash can result in inefficiencies of motion in the gear train and will ultimately damage a gear’s teeth. Too little can mean the gears bind up and cause excessive wear to the tooth’s surface and the root of the gear, or even the fracturing of a tooth. Establishing and setting the appropriate amount of backlash is essential in gear design and manufacturing, according to Berg, a Regal Rexnord Brand.
After volume production of the CeTrax lite electric drive for light commercial vehicles started in April 2023, ZF has already produced its first thousand units. The ramp-up in volume production was steeper than planned because demand from the customer ISUZU increased. The drive is used by ISUZU to power the latest generation its light distributor truck, the ISUZU ELF EV. Further volume production is set to start imminently this year.
Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced that Ben Sheen, chief engineer, of Eaton’s Mobility Group, was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Gear Research Institute (GRI) at Penn State University. The GRI is affiliated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) to conduct research and development, consulting, and analysis for gear-related needs.
Perkins has introduced a new line of repair sleeves for its 1100 Series engines, enabling end users to return cylinder bores to like-new performance while avoiding the downtime, expense, and waste of a full engine overhaul.
Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies has announced its Endurant XD series automated transmission is now available in select vocational Western Star and Freightliner models, both of which are subsidiaries of Daimler Truck North America (DTNA).
VCI bags allow auto parts manufacturers and suppliers to eliminate greasy rust preventatives and opt for the dry protection of VCI film instead. Unfortunately, some VCI bags are doomed to failure, leading to the very corrosion that the VCI bag user was trying to prevent. To avoid these negative consequences, Cortec shares the best path to making sure your next VCI bag is the corrosion solution and not the problem.
Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies has announced its Endurant XD series automated manual transmission is now available in select Kenworth truck models in Mexico and Latin America.
Designed and developed with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users in mind, the Perkins 4-cylinder offering had to be compact, powerful and quiet. Engineered to integrate perfectly into more than 80 different machine models, the 2.8- and 3.6-liter engines continue to deliver the performance, value and reliability customers expect to help them access new opportunities and support their business growth.
To date, nearly 400,000 city and intercity buses worldwide have been equipped with DIWA automatic transmissions. Passengers appreciate the comfortable and quiet ride, made possible by the stepless starting and braking functions. For operators, lower fuel consumption and consequently lower emissions – as well as low maintenance costs – are important aspects that have led them to use DIWA technology for many years now.
Omni Powertrain Technologies announces the development of a new electric powertrain designed for the propulsion of skid steers. The new product features a robust Omni gearbox paired with a Magelec Propulsion axial flux motor.
Intelligent power management company Eaton has announced a new name for its Vehicle Group and eMobility businesses. Eaton’s Mobility Group represents the company’s focus on providing solutions across the propulsion spectrum and meeting the evolving needs of its customers from internal combustion to electrified or a combination of both.
Kohler Engines, a Kohler company that has specialized in engine production since over a century, and Grastim, a JV specializing in high-efficiency technology solutions, have signed an agreement for a new hybrid self-generation plant at the historic Reggio Emilia facility. The project includes a 2 MW trigeneration plant and an 860 kW photovoltaic park integrated with each other, as well as the possibility of also being powered by hydrogen (hydrogen ready).
Leveraging Dana’s field-proven powershift technology, the eSP502 e-Transmission offers a dual-motor, two-speed design that is built on a flexible platform to enable optimized performance at maximum efficiency in a compact package. The modular approach to the transmission design allows for a single motor solution, as well as an optional power take-off, depending on the specific vehicle requirements. It recently made its North American debut at IFPE 2023.
Electrification is changing the automotive industry wholesale. This online article looks at training and transmission technology courses available in the e-mobility sector today. Coursework includes examining gearbox structure to battery technology to health and safety issues. This expansion continues to prepare engineers, manufacturers, and technicians for the shift toward electric vehicles.
Today, gearboxes are inevitable in numerous applications requiring high power density including wind turbines, electric vehicles, cranes, robotics, etc. A combination of high-ratio gearboxes with high-speed, low-torque motors is often used to achieve high power density. Planetary gear trains (PGTs) help achieve a high gear ratio in a compact arrangement. Several configurations of planetary gears are widely studied in this article where the gear profiles used in these studies are primarily involute.
Next-generation technology—everything from the electrification of vehicles to e-motors, bearings, mechatronics, and thermal management—was recently discussed during the Schaeffler Symposium 2022 in Detroit.
Force Control dynamometers featuring Positorq oil shear load brakes absorb extreme torque at very low speed, down to zero rpm. This allows them to accurately capture data at these critical junctures, when dynos equipped with traditional load brakes cannot.
Twin Disc, Inc. has announced the lease of an office space in Milwaukee, WI. The 8,100 square foot space on the fourth floor of an office building located on Erie Street in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward will accommodate approximately 25 employees. The Company expects to relocate its corporate team to the new location in early 2023.
For more than 30 years, the Schaeffler Symposium has stood for innovation, customer focus and the open exchange of ideas. The 12th Schaeffler Symposium, the ninth event of its kind to take place in the U.S., will be held in two venues this year: in Detroit on Sept. 8 and, for the first time ever, in Silicon Valley on Sept. 21-22. This year’s Symposium will focus on transformation and “Energizing the Next Generation.”
CTI Symposium Berlin starts with two introductory days dealing with the basics and practice of automotive transmissions, hybrid and electric drives for newcomers and those who want to refresh their knowledge. This is followed by the main program with keynote speeches, panel discussions and technical presentations.
Siemens Mobility is presenting its new digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator at InnoTrans 2022. Siemens Xcelerator is an open digital business platform with the ambition to create a powerful ecosystem of partners who can jointly accelerate digital transformation and sustainability in mobility at scale. By opening interfaces for all participants of the mobility ecosystem, Siemens Xcelerator helps connect the real with the digital worlds – a first-of-its-kind innovation in the rail industry.
Voith is further expanding its expertise in the e-mobility sector. With the VEDS HD+, the company is presenting its first drive concept for heavy-duty trucks. Special configurations for waste collection vehicles, inner-city logistics or long-distance transport applications ensure efficient driving with every use.
Omni Powertrain Technologies has released information about its new electrohydraulic pump combination. The unit was developed for low voltage mobile applications and is ideally suited for the needs of hybrid equipment builders facing spatial constraints.
A Conversation with Jeff Hemphill, CTO at Schaeffler Group USA Inc. Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor
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