Cummins, Eaton Unveil Powertrain Package, Say It Provides Up to 6% Better Fuel Economy

This story appears in the March. 18 print edition of Transport Topics.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. and component maker Eaton Corp. unveiled a new powertrain package last week that they said will provide between 3% and 6% better fuel economy than current baseline products for linehaul and regional haul applications.

The package combines Cummins’ 2013 ISX15 engine with an updated automated manual transmission from Eaton.

The companies announced the new offering for the North American heavy-duty truck market on March 10 at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting here.

The product will be available in the fall for linehaul, regional and less-than-truckload applications. It uses the automated manual version of Eaton’s new Fuller Advantage series transmissions, which the company announced late last month.

Company officials said the package provides improved fuel economy through closer integration between the engine and transmission.

Lori Thompson, vice president of Cummins’ truck and bus original equipment manufacturer business, said the companies “have had an extensive technical and business relationship over the years.”

“This latest chapter in our partnership combines some of the best technologies from both companies,” she said.

“The collaboration between the Eaton and Cummins teams has resulted in a superior powertrain package with which both fleet owners and professional drivers will be thrilled,” said Tim Sinden, president of North American truck operations in Eaton’s vehicle group.

Improved communications between the engine and transmission and new control logic enables further engine down-speeding in the overdrive position and the effective use of direct drive technology in operational conditions, Cummins said.

The announcement comes at a time when more truck manufacturers are touting their own integrated powertrain offerings.

Ken Davis, president of Eaton’s vehicle group, said his company is working more closely with suppliers such as Cummins, as well as with the OEMs.

“We’re trying to become more efficient in everything we do, and the way to make any drivetrain more efficient is to work with more integration,” he said.

Suppliers can achieve greater efficiency through collaboration, Davis said, in the same way that truck makers can through vertical integration.

“As a merchant supplier, if we can make our transmission and your engine work better with active fuel mapping, or acceleration limitation, or a number of driver interface ideas to make the drivetrain more efficient, let’s get it done,” he said.

Mark Ulrich, director of customer technical support at Cummins, was on hand to answer questions as TMC attendees checked out the new Cummins-Eaton powertrain package at the event’s exhibition hall.

He said the integrated product enables better electronic communications between the engine and transmission.

“It’s always thinking about what conditions it’s seeing, and the two parts are communicating with each other,” Ulrich said. “This is really going to bring a lot of value to our customers and put them where they need to be in terms of fuel-economy performance.”