Eaton and Cummins announce SmartAdvantage portfolio expansion by David Kolman

Power management company Eaton, along with Cummins, have announced that their SmartAdvantage Powertrain package is being expanded to include applications for the ISX12 diesel engine and the ISX15 in applications up to 110,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (GVW).

The product, which initially integrated an Eaton Fuller Advantage Series Automated Transmission with the Cummins ISX15 engine, has been embraced by customers since its launch last year, says Lori Thompson, vice president for Cummins’ truck and bus OEM business.

In making the announcement, executives from both companies said the product expansion is a continuation of the long-standing collaboration between Eaton and Cummins, and builds upon the announcement one year ago of the SmartAdvantage Powertrain for the ISX15 engine. More than 80 customers have taken delivery of trucks with the SmartAdvantage ISX15 package or have orders pending, with many confirming that their expectations in fuel economy improvements have been met or exceeded under real-world operating conditions, the officials say.

"Cummins and Eaton continue to collaborate on powertrain solutions for the North American on-highway markets that we serve," says Thompson. "The latest SmartAdvantage Powertrain offerings are a natural extension of the initial product, and will provide customers with the fuel economy and productivity improvements they desire, along with a broad range of applications to meet their specific hauling needs."

"The level of integration and advanced technology in the SmartAdvantage Powertrain delivers a package that both fleet owners and professional drivers are thrilled with," said John Beering, senior vice president and general manager of Eaton’s commercial vehicle transmission business. "Our teams continue to receive feedback from our customers and, in turn, deliver the kind of integration between the transmission and engine that is best-in-class in the North American heavy duty truck market."

SmartAdvantage ISX12
Designed to meet the increasing demands of fleets seeking lighter-weight vehicles, the new SmartAdvantage offering will pair the Eaton Fuller Advantage Series 10-speed Automated Manual Transmission with the Cummins ISX12 diesel engine. It will be offered as a small-ratio-step overdrive model with two new Cummins ISX12 SmartTorque2 (ST2) ratings: the ISX12 370ST2, with torque of 1,150 ft/lbs to 1,450 ft/lbs, and the ISX12 425ST2, with torque of 1,350 ft/lbs to 1650 ft/lbs.

Through a combination of hardware and software enhancements, the powertrain package benefits include:
- Integrated power, fuel and shifting strategies to provide an estimated 2 percent to 4 percent fuel
economy improvement for regional haul applications.
- Optimized engine and transmission communications and new control logic, enabling further engine downspeeding in the overdrive position, and the effective use of direct-drive technology in operational conditions required for a blend of perfect efficiency.

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.
The new engine and transmission combination has been designed specifically to work smarter to maximize fuel economy benefits, the executive say.

Managed power
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.

Availability
This newest SmartAdvantage powertrain package will be available in the fall of 2014, and is currently undergoing field testing, with initial test results confirming a 2 percent to 4 percent fuel economy improvement, depending on duty cycle and application.

Eaton and Cummins continue to collaborate on expanded offerings to cover more market segments, including the ISX15 SmartAdvantage in operations over 110,000-lb GVW for customers seeking to maximize driver comfort and productivity in their operation.

The joint validation of the products is being conducted with planned release later in 2014.