Volvo Trucks has announced that the latest version of its intelligent and automated I-Shift heavy-duty truck gearbox has a significantly improved shift speed compared to its predecessor. Updates to the transmission include faster clutch activation that results in a shorter torque interruption.
“Faster gear shifting makes it possible to optimize the gear selection more efficiently. And the more shifting events that the road and terrain requires, the more the improvements will be appreciated by the driver. With up to 30% faster gear changing now possible using I-Shift, drivers will certainly experience a very positive difference,” said Pär Bergstrand, heavy duty transmission manager at Volvo Trucks.
The increase in shift speed is achieved thanks to several key improvements. First, updated sensors provide data with higher accuracy than before to the control unit, which features new software and a faster microprocessor, for much quicker calculation times. Second, an added disc in the gearbox brake makes it react faster before a gear shift. Finally, the air volume has also been reduced in the actuation systems, for example the shift forks, the clutch and the gearbox brake, to further enable a faster gear shift.
“With all the improvements and new variants over the years, I-Shift has had an outstanding ability to solve more and more advanced tasks in efficient ways. This means not only delivering high performance and fuel efficiency but also outstanding driveability and comfort for the drivers,” added Bergstrand.