I participated in the recent 2017 Detroit Connect Showcase event wherein Detroit unveiled its Detroit Connect portal – a hub for new and future connectivity services, such as the Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service for Detroit-powered fleets.
Detroit is a brand of Detroit Diesel Corporation, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the leading heavy duty truck manufacturer in North America.
Coverage of this event can be found here.
The Portal
The portal helps fleets make informed business decisions and focus on the exceptions within their fleet, said Lauren Attinasi, product strategy manager, connectivity, Detroit. It:
- Links fleets with the experts at the Detroit Customer Support Center.
- Provides secure access to all fault code and Detroit Diesel Engine Control (DDEC) report information accessible in the Detroit Connect portal.
- Allows fleets to be immediately notified for critical information.
- Fits into the daily operations of fleets.
Data Potential
Attinasi pointed out that fleets are relying more on connected vehicle data for business decisions, and truck performance data has huge potential value for them. Moreover, smarter vehicle systems require more data to interpret their performance.
Customers spend a significant amount of resources analyzing vehicle performance and safety data, added Jason Krajewski, manager, connectivity insight team, Detroit. The Detroit Connect Platform facilitates the use of richer proprietary data and insightful analytics to help fleets maximize data potential and minimize their resources.
Initially, the Detroit Connect Analytics includes:
- Fuel efficiency analytics and reporting on vehicle trip analysis, fuel efficiency scoring, fleet fuel use analytics and trip reporting.
- Safety reporting on vehicle trip safety, fleet safety reporting and safety even viewer.
Detroit officials said there will be a continual evolution of the service, with new features being “rolled out at regular intervals going forward.”
New Freightliner Cascadia
During the Detroit event, Freightliner Trucks’ product marketing segment manager, on highway, Mike McHorse, said that the company’s new Cascadia “has met with strong market acceptance,” with more than 10,000 truck builds.
Freightliner is also a division of Daimler Trucks North America
Unveiled last September, officials at the time said the new Cascadia “is the most advanced truck Freightliner has ever designed, and will further lower the real cost of ownership for customers.”
Features
The new Cascadia is available with the integrated Detroit Powertrain, which combines the fuel-efficient downsped 400 hp/1,750 lb-ft. of torque Detroit DD15 or Detroit DD13 engines with the Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission, Intelligent Powertrain Management (IPM4) and corresponding Detroit steer and rear tandem axles.
The new Detroit rear axles have features such as lower sump volume, gear-set coating, friction reducing gear cutting and optional Axle Lubrication Management that reduces parasitic loss and improves fuel economy.
Proprietary Powertrain
Buyers of the new Cascadia are increasingly adopting proprietary powertrain components and safety systems, McHorse pointed out.
Buyers’ specs on the new Cascadia, compared to the Classic Cascadia, are:
- DT12 – 94%, up from 68%.
- Detroit Assurance safety systems, which provides full braking on stationary objects, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning with optional video capture – 59%, up from 25%.
- Axles – 87% front, 80% rear; up from 61% front, 37% rear.