ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division has launched the EcoLife CoachLine. The second generation of its six-speed automatic transmission, EcoLife CoachLine is suitable for coach applications, whether operating in a city, inter-city or more challenging terrains.
Delivering efficient and robust powershift transmission for coaches with up to 2,800 Nm of engine torque, the EcoLife CoachLine is said to achieve fuel savings of up to 3% compared to the previous generation thanks to a start/stop function which saves fuel during the entire transmission service life.
The powershift transmission has an optimal gear ratio spread, from 3.36 to 0.59. This is combined with a particularly high level of mechanical efficiency, ensuring that the vehicle operates in the optimum engine speed range at all times.
Effortless gear changing has been enabled using ZF’s TopoDyn Life software controls. Using driving resistance-dependent shift controls, the program ensures the right gear is always selected as the topography changes. The hydrodynamic torque converter with standard torsional damper enables high input torques to be achieved at relatively low engine speeds. The key benefits of this include noise reduction as well as lowering fuel consumption.
An integrated primary retarder and dual cooling set-up enables the highest level of braking power to always be available – even at low speeds. The dual cooling system features a large retarder heat exchanger and an integrated transmission heat exchanger. This ensures longer retarder braking and greater retarder availability. Effectively reducing the strain on the vehicle’s service brakes and protecting against overheating, the dual cooling system also extends oil-change intervals by up to 300,000 miles.
Additionally, EcoLife CoachLine increases the digitalization of servicing and maintenance.
