Remy International Inc and Allison Transmission Inc have joined forces for the Allison Transmission Commercial Hybrid Truck Programme.

The two companies have signed a long-term electric motor supply agreement that will provide Allison with Remy HVH410 electric motors that are expected to be initially used in pick-up and delivery, shuttle, utility and refuse applications.  

The Remy HVH410 electric motor uses Remy’s patented High Voltage Hairpin (HVH) technology and provides improved motor performance and cooling effectiveness. Both companies will manufacture in the United States with Remy making the HVH410 motors at its Anderson, Indiana, manufacturing facility while Allison manufacturers the Allison Hybrid Truck Drive system in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The move follows on from Allison Transmission’s long-term agreement with Delphi Automotive Systems signed last month. Under the terms of that agreement, Delphi will supply Allison Transmission with both energy storage systems and key hybrid drive system components.

Bus passengers in East London are the first in the UK to experience a unique form of hybrid power with four of 10 new Optare Tempos equipped with the GM-Allison Hybrid EP-System recently becoming operational. The patented ‘two mode’ parallel hybrid technology combines direct power from an electronically controlled diesel engine with electric power from an energy storage system and is already delivering significant fuel saving benefits, lower emissions, and raising vehicle performance for bus fleets over 115 cities worldwide.

Transport for London (TfL) is trialling the buses as part of an extensive long-running study into the performance of different hybrid systems and their various specifiable components such as controls, batteries and transmissions. Five of the GM-Allison-equipped buses are with the East London Bus Group where they will carry passengers on the 276 route between Newham General Hospital and Stoke Newington. Metroline will operate a further five on the E8 route between Ealing Broadway and Brentford.

The roll-out of these 10 new GM-Allison-equipped buses will contribute to the Mayor’s target of a 60 per cent reduction in emissions across London by 2025. Londoners will notice that hybrid buses are also significantly quieter than diesel buses, making bus travel more pleasant for passengers and reducing noise for local residents along bus routes. TfL currently operates more than 2,500 buses equipped with the smooth fully automatic transmissions across London.

How the GM-Allison two-mode hybrid system works

The complete GM-Allison Ep40/50 systems consists of the Ev DriveTM module – which serves as the vehicle transmission –, the Dual Power Inverter Module (DPIM), the Energy Storage System (ESS) – based on advanced Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries –, two electronic control modules and the electronic driver interface with integrated display.

This unique hybrid architecture combines the efficiency of a direct mechanical connection between engine and drive train of the parallel hybrid system with the advantages in engine management typical of serial hybrid design.

The real invention is the EV DriveTM module which is designed with a concentric arrangement of gearing – planetary gear sets – and two electric machines. This module combines (torque blend) electrical machine power with engine power. Thanks to the unique electrical and mechanical integration, the EV DriveTM does not have fixed gear ratios as does a typical transmission, but its gear, speed and torque ratios are infinitely and continuously variable.

This module forms a Hybrid Electrically Variable Transmission (HEVT). An Electrically Variable Transmission has the potential to combine the continuous control and urban drive cycle efficiency of the series hybrid with the high power capability and high efficiency of the parallel hybrid.

From stationary, the electrical starter motor draws power from the battery, mounted on the roof of the bus, to set the vehicle smoothly and almost silently into motion. Then as the vehicle picks up speed, the 340 hp diesel engine comes into action, offering a direct power supply to the drivetrain as required and eventually feeding the battery with additional power. An automatic controller ensures that the battery is maintained at optimum charge. At cruising speed, the battery cuts out altogether and operates like a conventional drivetrain.

This is why greatest benefits of the technology are experienced in lower speed, start-stop operations such as city buses.

The key contributor to hybrid efficiency is the regenerative braking system; the recapture of energy normally lost during braking. When the driver brakes to slow the vehicle, the kinetic energy that is normally dissipated in the brakes as heat is instead transferred back into usable electric energy by an electric motor which, operating in reverse, acts as a generator and charges the battery. It is estimated that 40 percent of the energy used to accelerate a bus with the GM Allison two-mode hybrid system comes from the energy saved during regenerative braking.

Allison estimates that since its system was introduced in 2003, it has contributed to the saving of over 25 million litres of fuel and the elimination of more than 65,000 metric tonnes of CO₂. It has been sold into more than 2,200 buses and coaches worldwide and covered over 200 million kms in revenue service.

One of the leading suppliers of commercial duty fully automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems, Allison Transmission, has announced record hybrid sales.

The company is emerging as one of the leading suppliers to the global bus and coach market with almost 50,000 Allison transmissions sold in 2008. More than 1,800 of Allison’s two-mode hybrid systems are now in operation globally.

The company has built on the success of its performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where it demonstrated support for the nearly 12,000 Allison automatic equipped buses operating, helping the public transport system to run smoothly.

With growing customer demand the company also successfully partnered with several key Chinese bus manufacturers as well as being chosen exclusively for more than 200 Daewoo city buses in Korea.

Allison has also enjoyed success in India and closer to home in Europe where it is at the forefront of developing the hybrid bus market. It has collaborated with several manufacturers with the first of the new Urbino Hybrid 18 buses having been delivered in Strasbourg, France. In the UK too there are buses around featuring Allison technology thanks to a contract to supply Transport for London.

According to Lawrence Love, executive director of international marketing, Allison is responding to specific local requirements to meet global demands.

 “Allison is trusted by commercial vehicle OEMs and operators around the world, and as market demand for automatics and hybrid systems continues to grow, global OEMs are expanding their Allison offerings,” he said.

“Responding to specific local requirements, backed up by local sales and engineering, Allison is globally recognised for its ability to meet stringent OEM and operator demands.”

Leading automatic transmission manufacturer highlights ways for OEMs and operators to save fuel, emissions and time

Allison Transmission, the premier global provider of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems, will use this year’s IAA to highlight ways for operators and OEMs to increase efficiency and environmental performance through the use of a fully-automatic gearbox or hybrid powertrain.

The firm will explain the unique characteristics of a full powershifting transmission and torque converter, and how it is being used to maximise performance and economy.  Allison will also explain why expanded global use of CNG powered trucks and buses is driving increased demand for automatic transmissions. “OEMs and end users are discovering that an Allison gearbox can increase performance and economy in a CNG powered vehicle,” says Larry Love, executive director, International Marketing.  “At IAA, we’ll provide details of how our transmission optimises the power available together with examples from distribution, municipal and bus applications. A fully-automatic brings added reliability and operating performance benefits to the driver and fleet manager alike.”

The firm will also present updates to its hybrid system, electronic controls and maintenance software to deliver improved fuel economy and lower operating costs.  In fact, visitors to the IAA show will have the opportunity to see the Solaris 18 Urbino hybrid equipped with the latest GM-Allison two-mode hybrid system. Advancements in the entire powertrain, including the adoption of a new, smaller Cummins engine have resulted in a further improvement in fuel economy and emissions. Allison’s new prognostics will also be on hand at the Allison stand.  The software, available from July 2008, informs the driver or fleet manager of transmission health and when an oil or filter change is required.  As well as the environmental benefit and cost of reducing the oil change frequency, the system provides maintenance managers with information to better plan vehicle maintenance.

Visitors to the Allison Building at the outdoor location E54 will have the opportunity to attend short interactive presentations about hybrid technology, fuel efficiency, and advanced prognostics.  These sessions highlight ways that Allison can drive efficiency in distribution, construction, specialty and bus applications. “Allison is working hard to extract the best performance from a powertrain in any application,” continues Love. “We welcome OEMs, end users and operators to visit our stand to learn how an Allison can improve efficiency in their application.  We have a recent example where we reduced fuel consumption by 25 percent in a yard tractor application.  Our Allison team is committed to providing the automatic experience with an unrivalled combination of Quality, Reliability, Vocational Value, and Customer Service.

About Allison Transmission, Inc.
Allison Transmission, Inc (Allison) is the premier global provider of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction, distribution, military and specialty applications. Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs 3,600 people. Regional headquarters with dedicated support staff are located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil and Japan. With a global presence in 80 countries, Allison has over 1,500 distributor and dealer locations. Allison generates annual revenues in excess of $2 billion. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com.