Volvo Trucks has launched the much-anticipated I-Shift Dual Clutch in Australia and New Zealand, the first transmission on the market with a dual clutch system for heavy vehicles. Thanks to power-shift gear changes without any interruption in power delivery, torque is maintained and the truck does not lose any speed during gear changes. For the driver, the result is more comfortable and efficient progress on the road.
Making the announcement today, Mitch Peden, vice president sales Volvo Trucks Australia, said the introduction of I-Shift Dual Clutch to the Australian and New Zealand markets was a result of strong customer interest in Volvo Trucks technology.
“We are immensely proud to now offer this innovation to our customers. Volvo Trucks invests heavily in talking to customers and getting to know exactly what they need. I-Shift Dual Clutch is a product that our customers asked for – we listened and we are delighted to give them exactly what they want,” Peden said.
“In situations that require a lot of gear changes, I-Shift Dual Clutch brings an entirely new dimension to truck driving.”
The I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission consists of two input shafts and a dual clutch, which means that two gears can be selected at the same time. It is the clutch that determines which of the gears is currently active. I-Shift Dual Clutch is based on I-Shift, but the front half of the gearbox has been redesigned with entirely new components.
I-Shift Dual Clutch makes a big difference when transporting moving or liquid cargoes, such as animal transport and tanker operations, since the seamless gear changes prompt less movement in the cargo itself. Thanks to I-Shift Dual Clutch power-shifting, there is less risk of getting stuck on slippery or uneven roads, for instance when hauling timber in the forest.
“I-Shift Dual Clutch allows seamless gear changes without any interruption to power or loss of speed, and delivers smooth acceleration when driving uphill, even on a slippery road,” Peden explained.
“Ultimately it cuts wear on powertrain, tyres and the rest of the truck, while also saving on fuel as the engine disengages when going downhill.
“I-Shift Dual Clutch has already proven very popular with truck drivers in Europe as it gives a more comfortable ride with smooth gear changes, and without dips in torque the noise level in the cab is reduced.
“For trucks, this gearbox will truly make a major difference to driveability. The heavier the transport and the tougher the operating conditions, the more you will gain with I-Shift Dual Clutch. Power-shift gear changes, where there is no interruption in power delivery, means it is easier to keep up with traffic, especially on tricky stretches of roads. The result is more relaxed and safe driving.”
I-Shift Dual Clutch will be available for ordering from today on the Volvo FH with Euro 5 D13 engines and with 500 and 540 horsepower. Transmissions with dual clutches are already used in cars, but Volvo Trucks is the first manufacturer in the world to offer a similar solution for series-produced heavy vehicles.
See the videos on how I-Shift Dual Clutch works on Volvo Trucks‘ YouTube channel here:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHn9sQyHSKY
• https://youtu.be/5Y7y9cde0P0
