"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/27/2014 at 19:58 • Filed to: None
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"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/27/2014 at 19:58 • Filed to: None | 6
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Put lever in D.
Release handbrake.
Accelerate.
Same thing mechanically as a manual 12 or 16 speed but electrons and compressed air do it all for you. Rather than automate their existing synchromesh box Volvo (and most of their rivals) have chosen to build a completely new non synchromesh unit and use rev matching to change gear, aided where necessary by the exhaust brake to reduce engine speed quickly. Automated manual boxes are well on their way to replacing ordinary manuals in most sectors of the transport business in Europe but the American market has been slower to adopt them. Volvo and US subsidiary Mack are introducing iShift on the other side of the Atlantic while Mercedes subsidiary Freightliner has introduced the Merc Powershift 3, renamed for the American market and modified to accept a reduced diet of only 12v rather than its accustomed 24v.
Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
> Cé hé sin
10/27/2014 at 22:01 |
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The bad new is, IMHO, the Allison transmission allowed a whole bunch of people without the judgement of how to control a 33,000# killing machine to pilot school buses. Prior to auto-boxes, you had to have a clue what you were really doing.
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Cé hé sin
> Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
10/28/2014 at 10:40 |
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The alternative theory is that providing an automatic box leaves the driver with more opportunity to keep his/her mind on the road rather than concentrate on managing a manual gearbox. That's been one of the arguments for equipping public service vehicles with automatics, the other being reduced wear and tear. I can't imagine any driver wanting to drive a large manual vehicle through city streets, especially one full of vulnerable passengers.