CUMMINS Inc confirmed its commitment to customers in the heavy-duty truck market with the announcements of fuel-efficiency improvements, a new engine rating, and Connected Diagnostics. Cummins entire lineup of on-highway engines were on display at the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville March 27-29.
Cummins now offers optimized ratings for its 15-liter ISX15 engines to meet customer needs and provide leading fuel efficiency in a variety of applications. For the most fuel-conscious fleets, the ISX15 is available with ratings of 400 horsepower to 450 horsepower, which deliver peak torque at 1,000 rpm. All ratings can be uniquely tailored with electronic features like Load-Based Speed Control (LBSC), Gear-Down Protection (GDP), and Vehicle Acceleration Management (VAM) to maximize fuel economy and reduce overall operating costs.
Since 2010, numerous improvements have been made to the ISX15 to deliver up to 7% better fuel efficiency. Customers moving from a pre-2010 engine could experience up to 10% improvement. Over the past three years, combustion optimization, reduced parasitic loads, enhanced low-end torque to support downspeeding, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) optimization and the addition of a naturally aspirated air compressor have contributed to the significant gain in fuel economy.
ISX15 SmartTorque2 (ST2) ratings are available with the SmartAdvantage Powertrain, which delivers an additional 3% to 6% fuel-economy improvement. Jointly developed by Cummins and Eaton, the SmartAdvantage Powertrain integrates the Eaton Fuller Advantage Series automated manual transmission and Cummins ST2 ratings to operate the engine in the fuel-economy “sweet spot” and deliver excellent low-end torque and precise shifting, to help every driver perform like the best driver in the fleet.
The new engine and transmission combination has been designed specifically to work smarter to maximize fuel economy benefits. Cummins new ISX12 ST2 ratings are the next generation of today’s SmartTorque ratings, and precisely manage the power needed for the load demand. Vehicle Acceleration Management (VAM) is a patented Cummins electronic feature that manages vehicle acceleration for smoother shifting. The feature contributes to fuel economy benefits in stop-and-go duty cycles found in regional haul applications.
Eaton’s Fuller Advantage Series transmissions have lower overall package weight and improved reliability due to the elimination of the cooler. Combined with the use of aluminum for the rear transmission housing, range cylinder, shift bar housing, and the shift tower—and a thin-wall cast-iron main case design—the new transmission weighs 82 pounds less than Eaton’s UltraShift PLUS LAS base model. A new Precision Lubrication system for precise and efficient transmission lubrication further enhances fuel economy by reducing churning losses.
Cummins also announced the introduction of the new ISX15 560 hp rating, providing customers with the ability to further maximize productivity in their operations. Ideally suited for customers operating with heavy loads or on routes with steep grades, where pulling power and effective engine braking are critical, the ISX15 rating with 560-hp and 1,850 lb-ft of peak torque provides excellent prolonged low-end torque, delivering peak power sooner and over a wider rpm range.
Cummins continues its commitment to providing unmatched customer support with the development of Connected Diagnostics, a new application being designed to work seamlessly with leading telematics systems. Cummins Connected Diagnostics will provide customers with expert recommendations for the best action to take when a driver is alerted to an engine system fault. Connected Diagnostics is the first of several telematics-assisted applications that Cummins is developing.
Cummins Connected Diagnostics will be available in limited production later in 2014, with full production release planned for 2015. ♦
