Meeting the next truck emissions milestone

Meeting the next emissions milestone

Those of you who have been around for a couple of decades are intimately familiar with all the engine and powertrain changes that have been made within those years to comply with EPA emission standard benchmarks and, more recently, the EPA/NHTSA Greenhouse Gas 17 (GHG17) initiatives. But you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

While there is not yet a firm date for the next GHG mandate (we’ll know more this June) truck OEMs and suppliers have been researching, developing and testing new technology to meet the anticipated changes and developing systems that will not only meet the new standard, but also create more efficient vehicles. In the past, tweaking engine parameters and adding aftermarket treatment hardware was all that was necessary to meet emission regulations. Going forward, the list of powertrain efficiency improvements has expanded. In this column, we will tackle just four of the top onboard-integrated improvements listed below:

  • Engine downspeeding
  • Lubrication viscosity
  • Turbo efficiency
  • Reduced Heat transfer
  • Waste heat recovery
  • Active powertrain optimization
  • Fuel consumption improvements

Engine downspeeding—While there are some OEMs who can offer proprietary components for powertrain integration, Don Remboski, vice president of innovation, research and development for Dana, noted that Tier I suppliers are also able to work with truck makers to achieve the integrated systems needed to meet the next GHG mandate. As an example addressing engine downspeeding, he said, “We are going to direct drive transmissions that are directly connected to the engine driveshaft,” Remboski said. “We have been in development for the last two and a half years and units are now being fleet tested. The target timing for initial release is 2017.”

Also commenting on engine downspeeding, Steve Slesinski, director, global product planning, Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies, said, “Vehicle architecture has been changing, but there are more improvements that can be made. When it comes to achieving a future goal of powertrain optimization one of the things we can do is optimize axle ratios (as low as 2:1 versus the previous 3.55:1) to work with slower engine RPMs but also reduce torque and avoid beefing up other components on the vehicle by starting the vehicle in a higher (slower) axle ratio (gear).” The Dana Spicer dual range disconnect concept for tandem axles used in Class 8 linehaul applications works well for this situation. Slesinski added that the axle is designed to avoid the excessive torque related to the very fast axle ratios at low speed by only shifting to the faster axle ratio at a predetermined speed to further optimize efficiency without comprising low speed performance or traction.
(Click next page to continue reading the story.)

You May Also Like

New ways to help your trucks maintain the proper tire pressure

Let’s take a look at some of the new products that are helping trucking companies get the most ROI out of their tires.

Tire-Care-Generic-800x400

As evidenced by all the new tire inflation offerings at this year’s NACV show back in October, new technology is allowing fleets to keep a closer eye on tire pressure. Let’s take a look at some of the new products that are helping trucking companies get the most ROI out of their tires:

What’s behind the slow adoption of FA-4 oil?

Introduced three years ago, the American Petroleum Institute (API)’s CK-4 and FA-4 oil categories were billed as the next generation of oil, improving on the engine protection and fuel economy benefits offered by previous engine oil categories.

Slow-Adoption-Oil-800x400
How will today’s ‘customer focus’ translate to tomorrow’s electric trucks?

Over the past three years, OEMs have invested heavily in driver-focused equipment benefits—from cozy creature comforts to uptime- and productivity-boosting technology. Today, significant R&D investment is going into the development of electric trucks—probing the possibilities of untested powertrains in hopes of producing a product that meets application needs.

Volvo-electric-truck-VNR-800x400
Benchmarking success: Utility fleets are using performance metrics to drive measurable improvements

Fleet executives at the annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC), discussed benchmarking. For fleet managers on the panel, using data and performance metrics is a means of showing opportunities for improvement, through which cost savings can be realized.

International-800x400
Sleeper supremacy: A focus on the customer has led to more fleets spec’ing large, decked-out sleepers

Across the business world, companies are becoming more and more interested in emulating the success of Amazon. It’s a model that many truck OEMs are now following as they sharpen their focus on fleet customers, learn what equipment will meet the customers’ needs and deliver the products that they want.

Peterbilt-sleeper-800x400

Other Posts

Dana introduces reusable differential gaskets to market

Since no room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone is needed, there is an instant seal, so service technicians do not have to wait for reassembly.

Dana introduces Spicer Electrified e-Transmissions for commercial vehicles

Dana says the powertrain accommodates a diverse range of medium-duty applications, such as straight trucks, walk-in vans, refuse trucks, utility trucks and platform trucks.

Dana-Spicer-etransmission
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. Related Articles – Renewable Lubricants releases hydraulic fluid with higher

truck-powertrain-downspeeding-feature-1400
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-Digital-600