Allison said its T280 fully automatic transmission had been selected as standard transmission for new medium sized city buses manufactured by J-Bus, the joint venture between Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors, which designs and manufactures bus bodies for both companies.
The supplier said its automatic transmissions are currently installed in around 10,000 large city buses in Japan, for a 75% market share.
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The T280, a six-speed transmission, has been installed primarily in large city buses but is now optimised for medium size city buses with both models fully compliant with the 2015 heavy-duty fuel efficiency standards.
One of the key features enabling compliance has been the deployment of a momentary switch in the buses' Idling Stop/Start System (ISS) which improves fuel efficiency. This device engages the ISS system when the engine restarts. Even if the driver switches off the engine with the ISS deactivated and then restarts it, the ISS is automatically re-activated when the key is turned.
When the driver stops the bus and the middle door opens for passengers to exit or board, the transmission power disconnect feature activates and the gear is automatically switched to neutral. This prevents vehicle creep and ensures safety of passengers getting on and off the bus. When the bus is ready to move and the middle door is closed, the release of the driver's foot from the brake pedal automatically engages the transmission, allowing the vehicle to start smoothly.
A prognostic function monitors the status of the transmission fluid, its level and filter life, and displays various indicators and warnings. This includes recommended transmission fluid and filter replacement timings on the shift selector, reducing the risk of unexpected trouble.
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By GlobalDataAs more bus operators use vehicles with automatic transmissions, Allison has expanded and strengthened its after sales service in Japan and now has 23 service dealers nationwide.
