SAVANNAH, GA (September 20, 2006) – Volvo Trucks North America today introduced the innovative and fuel-saving Volvo I-Shift automated transmission for Model Year 2008 Volvo trucks. I-Shift can be ordered now for delivery in the second quarter of 2007.  The announcement was made at a news conference here.

 

The Volvo I-Shift is a technologically advanced transmission designed specifically for Volvo’s new family of heavy-duty diesel engines.  I-Shift incorporates a host of fuel-saving and productivity enhancing features into a reliable, durable and lightweight design. 

 

“We believe customers will immediately recognize the advantages I-Shift offers for productivity, lower cost of operation, driver recruitment and retention, and safety,” said Scott Kress, senior vice president – sales & marketing.  “The combination of I-Shift with Volvo’s new engine family gives our customers a complete vehicle and drivetrain solution. 

 

“The truck, the engine and the transmission have all been engineered and designed to work as one integrated, exceptionally efficient machine,” Kress said.  “Customers can always get the perfect ratio at the right time for optimal engine and vehicle performance, which means a higher degree of productivity, fuel economy and reliability.  And I-Shift’s light weight means more payload per trip.”

 

Volvo will offer three I-Shift models, with the ability to handle all power and torque inputs from its new engine family, including the top 600 hp/2050 lb-ft rating.  I-Shift will be available for all Volvo truck models, including the Volvo VN and Volvo VT highway tractors, and the Volvo VHD vocational truck.

 

Volvo I-Shift

 

	AT2512C	ATO2512C	ATO3112C
Operation	Two Pedal	Two Pedal	Two Pedal
Forward Speeds	12	12	12
Used With	D11/D13	D11/D13	D16
Overall Ratio	14.94:1	15.04:1	15.04:1
Top Ratio	Direct 1.00:1	Overdrive 0.78:1	Overdrive 0.78:1
Weight lbs (kg)	597 (275)	597 (275)	610 (281)

 

Volvo has sold approximately 80,000 I-Shift transmissions in other markets to date.  The I-Shift was introduced in early 2002, and is Volvo’s third generation of automated manual transmission; the first generation was introduced in 1987.  Volvo has sold approximately 19,000 I-Shifts in Europe in the first six months of 2006. 

 

Technical Details

 

The Volvo I-Shift is a 12-speed, single countershaft transmission built up with a splitter, a main section with three forward and one reverse gear, plus a range gear.  It is an automated mechanical transmission and does not use synchronizers in its main section.  The I-Shift is a ”two-pedal” transmission and does not require a clutch pedal.  The transmission’s controls are located on a compact control console and lever attached to the driver’s seat.

 

I-Shift’s sophisticated electronics and programming were optimized for use with Volvo’s new D11, D13 and D16 engines.  The I-Shift electronic control unit (ECU), the VECTRO Engine Management System and the Volvo Vehicle ECU

were designed by the same team and use the same protocols for seamless, integrated operation.

Built-In Intelligence

 

Because of how the Volvo engines and I-Shift are integrated, I-Shift is programmed with the engines’ efficiency map for each engine rating.  The transmission combines this knowledge with sensors to continuously calculate the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, torque demand, weight, rolling and air resistance, and road grade to continuously predict and select the most efficient utilization of the engine for the next 30 seconds.  This means optimum performance and fuel economy at all times.

 

I-Shift’s road grade sensor not only helps the transmission determine which gear to start off in, but also when it can skip shift, for further smooth operation and fuel economy.  The road grade sensor is exclusive to Volvo.  I-Shift can also determine how the gradient is changing, which helps it predict whether a gear change will be necessary.

 

I-Shift is also fully integrated into the Volvo Engine Brake system, and can automatically downshift the engine to maintain set cruise speeds on downhills.

 

Key Features

 

One of I-Shift’s key advantages is that it makes even drivers with limited experience shift as expertly as the best drivers, for improved fuel economy and less stress on the driveline and tires. 

 

It also keeps the driver’s hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, as it relieves the inexperienced driver of the challenge of selecting and shifting into the correct gear.  The driver can always concentrate on what is happening around him in traffic, which improves safety.  I-Shift also benefits all drivers by reducing workload and fatigue, especially in congestion.  I-Shift never gets tired and continues to shift as well as the best driver, all day long, with the best possible fuel economy.

 

I-Shift has other fuel economy improvement features built-in.  One is Eco-Roll, an energy management feature that improves fuel economy in the top gear when operating in rolling hills.  This is particularly useful since most linehaul trucks spend 90 percent of their time in top gear. 

 

Eco-Roll is a Volvo-exclusive feature that automatically disengages the engine when the vehicle is in top gear on a long, slight downgrade which requires no engine torque input. By allowing the engine to idle in these situations, Eco-Roll can reduce parasitic losses by as much as 30 hp.  Eco-Roll re-engages the engine as soon as one of the following happens:

•  The speed reaches the engine brake set speed for the cruise control 

•  The driver touches the brake

•  The driver touches the engine brake control stalk

•  The driver touches the accelerator

•  Or, if the vehicle speed increases past a pre-set limit.

 

Another fuel-saving option is direct drive.  When an I-Shift is ordered with direct drive, in 12th gear the transmission output shaft is tied directly to the input shaft.  This results in less power loss due to friction between mating gears. Transmissions with direct drive can save as much as 1.5 percent in fuel vs. overdrive transmissions.  That equals as much as 3-4 hp in a typical truck today.

 

I-Shift features a lube oil pump, which pumps lubricant around through drilled passageways to get oil where it’s needed, unlike common splash lubricant designs where all the gears are immersed in the lubricant.  This can reduce parasitic demand on the vehicle by as much as 2-3 hp for greater fuel economy.  I-Shift also offers a lube oil filter, to catch any contaminants and to ensure clean lube oil for longer life.

 

There are five feature packages for I-Shift, to give it more features and greater flexibility than any other automated mechanical transmission.  And Volvo’s enhanced engine brake, I-VEB, is standard with I-Shift.

 

I-Shift is also available with a kick-down switch on the accelerator pedal, a feature designed to enhance driving performance.  When engaged, the kick-down switch gives the driver maximum acceleration, for instance, when passing.  The kick-down feature can also be enabled by Volvo’s Performance Bonus Software package to reward the driver for saving fuel.

 

There are two major operating modes offered with I-Shift:  Fuel Economy (E) and Performance (P).  In “E” mode, the transmission will select shift points and engine parameters to maximize fuel economy.  In “P” mode, gradeability is maximized.  The ability to choose these modes for the same transmission enhances the truck’s resale value.

 

Volvo also offers a third mode, for times when traffic is jammed and creeping along is the only option.  The Idle Governor driving mode complements the cruise control when driving slowly and without cycling the clutch.  It allows the engine to operate at idle without using the accelerator pedal for best fuel economy and to adjust the speed by selecting the gear that best suits the pace of the traffic.

 

The idle governor will adjust the torque to maintain idle speed and thereby constant vehicle speed, although the engine load may vary.  A slight drag on the brake will cause the transmission to change down one gear, while a touch of the throttle increases to the next higher gear.  The clutch is only disengaged when the truck is stopped.

 

Upgrades and Flexibility

 

Each of the three I-Shift transmissions can handle any of the available engine ratings from the lowest to the highest for its applicable engine.  This means, a Volvo D11, D13, or D16 can be uprated to its highest horsepower and torque rating without needing to modify clutch or transmission.  Customers can also upgrade to a higher feature package with the same transmission.  This maximizes operational flexibility and resale value.

 

Warranty, Service and Support

 

Each I-Shift comes with an outstanding warranty:

·        Five years/750,000 miles parts and labor for engines with 1750 lb-ft of torque or less

·        Three years/500,000 miles for engines above 1750 lb-ft of torque.

 

I-Shift can be diagnosed using Volvo’s electronic tools, VCADS Pro and VCADS Elite.  Fault codes can also be accessed through Volvo’s sophisticated built-in Driver Display, which is standard with mid- and high-level instrument display clusters.

 

Volvo Trucks North America assembles its Volvo VT, VN and VHD trucks in the United States, at the ISO14001 and ISO9001 certified New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia.  Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland.  Volvo sponsors the America’s Road Team national highway safety outreach program.

 

Volvo Trucks North America is part of the Volvo Group of companies, a publicly held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.  With 2005 sales of approximately $31 billion, Volvo’s business areas include heavy trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace, and financial services.  In the United States, Volvo shares are listed on NASDAQ and are traded as ADRs (symbol: VOLV).