Innovations live show
ZF at the IAA 2008
“Innovations of Great Value” is the ZF slogan. At IAA Commercial Vehicles 2008, technical innovations that help make transport and logistics services more economical were more in demand than ever before. The pressure to make commercial vehicles safer and more comfortable is also intense. Once again, ZF is at the forefront in both areas, with a host of new products and technical solutions. Hybrid drives and networked units provide for prospects on the commercial vehicle of the future.
Steering Technology from ZF*
Varioserv steering pump - the economical marvel
The Varioserv adjustable vane pump plays an important part in optimizing the energy usage of hydraulic steering systems. As their geometric capacity be adapted in accordance with the pump speed, less oil is pumped around and back through the low-pressure circuit. The result ist energy savings of up to 50 percent and a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 0,2 liters per 100 kilometers. 2,8 Mio Commercial Vehicles in Germany have saving potencial of up to 1,8 Mio EUR every day.
Hybrid technology is market-ready
DynaStart: the hybrid modules for delivery vehicles, buses, and light commercial vehicles.
Over the past few years, ZF has developed a complete product portfolio for vehicles driven in start and go urban traffic. These products will be launched in the near future. The spectrum ranges from electric motors to complete hybrid systems. The wide range of ZF hybrid products is based on tried and tested driveline technologies linked to the DynaStart electric motor. This combination has produced hybrid versions of the eTronic, the AS Tronic lite (HyTronic) and the EcoLife for delivery vehicles and small trucks and buses. All these concepts use the parallel hybrid approach, in which an electric motor and an internal combustion engine are combined into an extremely economic hybrid drive system. One of the key benefits for vehicle manufacturers who already use ZF transmissions is that the ZF hybrid transmissions can be integrated into the existing driveline without increasing package installation space.
More Safety in the Network
Another highlight is the functional networking of existing driveline, chassis, or steering systems, turning them into new intelligent solutions. At the IAA, ZF displayed networked systems which offer more advantages than the mere sum of their parts. One of the possible applications – even if this is some way off in the future – is a remote truck guidance system. Upon entering the depot, the driver hands over control of the vehicle to a guidance system that remotely controls the truck, guiding it to an assigned position. A driverless transport system of this kind could avoid vehicle damage and increase economy in the logistics process. Truck drivers would be able to use this time as their rest break. A less visionary application would be on platform vehicles, where various positioning maneuvers of the vehicle could be carried out from the platform crane seat without the driver having to climb into the cab every time.
New at the IAA: the ZF-PowerLine
The new ZF PowerLine 6-speed automatic transmission is targeted at light commercial vehicles, minibuses and pickups, for which the company previously did not supply a powershift transmission. With its wide range of applications in the torque range between 600 and 1,000 Nm, the new transmission is ideally suited for the international market. It is on an international stage that the ZF PowerLine will make its debut. The powershift transmission with hydraulic torque converter is set to go into production in 2010 in Gainesville, Georgia.
