ATLANTA – Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies unveiled the first product from its joint venture, a lightweight, efficient automated transmission, at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show.

Company officials said the new Endurant 12-speed automated transmission is the lightest, most efficient 1,850 lb.-ft.-capable heavy-duty transmission. Designed for linehaul applications, it weighs up to 105 pounds less than competitive automated manual transmissions (AMTs).

“Fleets will find that Endurant has been intelligently engineered from the ground up with features that protect your investment and make it easy to maintain,” said Scott Davis, general manager, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies. “With a sophisticated communication system between the engine and transmission software, Endurant promises to deliver industry-best performance and reliability, fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance, and driver comfort features.”

Company officials stressed that Endurant is not an automated version of a manual transmission “Endurant was designed, engineered and created from a clean sheet to be an automated transmission, not simply an update to an AMT, allowing us to optimize the transmission’s weight, dimensions and features,” explained Gerard DeVito, vice president, Technology, Eaton Vehicle Group.

“The market demands have changed, and automated transmissions really are the future, they’re what our customers are asking, what drivers are asking for,” said Jeff Bosscher, systems engineering manager, Endurant.

The Endurant shares many of the features of the new Paccar Automated Transmission, which was designed by Eaton to work with Paccar powertrains.

An extensive component and complete vehicle testing program put Endurant through extreme conditions at the Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall, Michigan, as well as in the high heat of Death Valley, California, and minus 40-degree temperatures in northern Minnesota – more than 2 million equivalent field test miles in all, they said.

The joint venture got customer input throughout the process, not just from fleets, but from drivers, technicians, and others as well.

Features include:

• Internal electrical system routing that minimizes exposure and corrosion to wires and connectors for improved reliability;

• A new smart prognostics feature provides clutch replacement notification to better plan maintenance scheduling;

• An industry-exclusive transmission fluid pressure sensor notifies drivers of low oil levels to provide burn-up warranty coverage;

• Smooth and intuitive shift strategies that enhance the operator’s driving experience;

• Predictive shifting using look-ahead technology to execute shift decisions that improve fuel efficiency and provide additional driver comfort;

• A standard, 8-bolt PTO opening that improves future resale value.All-aluminum exterior

Production will begin Oct. 16. Endurant will be paired with the Cummins X15 Efficiency Series engine and will be available in the Kenworth T680 and the Peterbilt Model 579.

“With the lowest cruise rpm among competitive automated transmissions and the best overall ratios, Endurant is ideally engineered to fully support the growing move to downspeeding to help save fuel,” added DeVito. “Among linehaul transmissions, Endurant has the deepest reverse ratio in the industry for slow speed maneuvering.”

Features designed to improve maintenance include:

• 750,000-mile lube change intervals for linehaul applications, which company officials say is the industry’s longest and 250,000 to 450,000 miles longer than competitive models

• A maintenance-free 430mm self-adjust clutch that requires no grease;

• Endurant requires only 16 pints of oil, about half the amount of competitive models;

• A replaceable input shaft sleeve allows for affordable and quick repair, while competitive transmissions require a costly and time-consuming full teardown.

In addition, innovations such as a transmission fluid pressure sensor and clutch life prognostics maximize uptime.

Like all automated transmissions from the Eaton Cummins joint venture, Endurant is available with IntelliConnect, a telematics capable system that provides near real-time monitoring of vehicle fault codes, prioritizes the critical events, and provides accurate and comprehensive action plans by technical experts at Eaton.

The standard Endurant transmission warranty is 5-year/750,000 miles for linehaul commercial vehicles, and 3-year/350,000 miles for the clutch. One-year and two-year extended protection plans are also available. Endurant’s maximum operating weight (GCVW) is 110,000 lbs. (49,895 kg); maximum horsepower is 510 hp, and oil capacity is 16 pints (7.5L).

More info: www.eatoncumminsjv.com/endurant