Truck powertrain downspeeding—how low can you go?
It’s been part of the specification vernacular for many years. As a powertrain-focused strategy for improving fuel economy, downspeeding has been of interest to fleets looking to lower fuel costs. For manufacturers, it is also a means of meeting efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions regulations. The concept itself is simple. With downspeeding, the rear axle
Dana’s new Sustainable Mobility Center awarded LEED Certification
Dana Incorporated announced that it has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its Sustainable Mobility Center, located on its World Headquarters campus in Maumee, Ohio, United States. Dana’s state-of-the-art Sustainable Mobility Center serves as an engineering center for e-Propulsion products, including the development of electric motors and upfitting of electric vehicles with complete
Dana Spicer Electrified e-Powertrain earns two technology awards
Dana Inc. has earned the New Power Technology Award and the Achievement of the Year Award for its Spicer Electrified e-Powertrain at the 2021 Diesel Progress Summit and Awards. The Diesel Progress Summit Awards are awarded to commercially available powertrains, with a focus on the dramatic changes that are being driven by emission regulations and
Are pusher axles positioned for a lift in spec’ing popularity?
When I caught up with Joel Morrow, senior driver and vice president of equipment procurement at Ploger Transportation, for a deep-dive into 6×2 axle configurations and downspeeding, he made a surprising axle comment that stood out when it came to address the stigma 6×2 axle configurations face when it comes time for truck resale. “Resale
The case for 6×2 axle spec and faster ratios with Joel Morrow
Joel Morrow has long been a proponent of pushing fuel efficiency possibilities. He’s what I’d call a Super Spec’er. Morrow charges headlong into the nitty gritty equipment details to eke out another fraction of a percentage of fuel efficiency because if he does that enough times throughout a spec, it turns into big bottom-line savings.
Dana, Bosch reach fuel cell manufacturing agreement
Dana and Bosch have announced the signing of a long-term cooperation agreement to mass produce metallic bipolar plates for fuel-cell stacks. Dana says its licensed intellectual property will serve as the foundation for the companies to co-develop and co-produce the metallic bipolar plates, an integral component in the fuel cell stack. Bosch says its fuel cell
Electric truck regenerative braking, explained
One of the most intriguing electric truck technologies is regenerative braking. Who wouldn’t want to capture the energy used to slow the vehicle and send it back to the battery pack? Not only can it help increase an electric truck’s range (which is definitely needed), but it can potentially reduce the number of brake pads
Maximize Uptime with Next-Day Shipment of CV Driveshafts
When a commercial vehicle is down with a damaged or failed driveshaft, you want to calculate the loss of profits and productivity in hours—not days or weeks. While preventative maintenance and being alert to warning signs can help avoid driveline-related emergencies, even the toughest driveshafts can eventually fail due to harsh operating conditions and severe
Dana starts Spicer ReadyShaft next-day driveshaft delivery
Dana Incorporated has introduced Spicer ReadyShaft to provide next-day delivery of ready-to-install Spicer driveshafts. Spicer ReadyShaft driveshafts are built to order with genuine Spicer component parts and arrive painted and pre-greased for easy installation, the company says. All driveshaft part numbers are available for heavy-duty commercial vehicles through the ReadyShaft program and each comes with
Dana expands Spicer Life Series service-free u-joint portfolio
Dana Incorporated has added new SPL 140SFX service-free u-joints for medium-duty applications to its portfolio of Spicer Life Series service-free u-joints for commercial vehicles. Dana says the new Spicer SPL140SFX eliminates the zerk hole lube drill and tap, and includes a tube of Spicer ultra-premium synthetic grease that is compatible with all NLGI-2 greases. Once
Podcast: The role of e-axles and power systems in the electric future
The electric future has arrived, with several major OEMs making battery electric trucks available now, some that will be available soon, and even a growing push toward hydrogen fuel cell power. So what will the role of suppliers be in this electric future? To answer that question, I talked with Jeremy Frenznick, senior director of
Long Live the King Pin—With Maintenance and Proper Repair
A “king pin” may be defined as “a thing essential to the success of an operation,” so it’s no surprise that the steer axle king pin in a commercial vehicle is a supremely significant part. Proper maintenance is the key to prolonging the life of the crucial king pin, but no part lasts forever. When
