| Motorsport-derived gearbox technology delivers fuel | | | | AMTs also offer distinct potential as an alternative to |
| economy and durability benefits to truck, bus and | | | | CVTs for smaller vehicles, whether two-, three- or |
| scooter manufacturers | | | | four-wheeled. A typical rubber belt CVT, whilst offering |
| A gearbox technology originally developed for the | | | | a low user skill requirement, suffers a substantial fuel |
| world’s most successful rally cars is being applied | | | | consumption penalty. |
| to a surprising range of vehicles, from scooters to | | | | Prodrive’s control system expertise is a key |
| buses, to meet the demanding challenges of | | | | ingredient in the success of AMT applications; |
| developing markets. Variable levels of driver skill mean | | | | expertise which has been built up since the early 1990s |
| that vehicle purchasers are attracted to the | | | | on vehicles as varied as WRC rally cars, scooters and |
| convenience and ease of operation offered by | | | | off-highway vehicles. This capability has been |
| automatic transmissions but the associated fuel | | | | demonstrated using a wide variety of bespoke and |
| consumption penalty and increase in vehicle cost is not | | | | proprietary actuation systems – electric, hydraulic |
| acceptable in developing markets dominated by small, | | | | and even pneumatic. The functionality of the |
| economical vehicles. Technology consultancy, Prodrive, | | | | completed installation can include such features as |
| has demonstrated a range of automated manual | | | | switchable fully automatic modes (such as |
| transmission (AMT) solutions that can be scaled to suit | | | | performance or economy), driver intervention, hill hold |
| a variety of applications, are thoroughly proven and | | | | and creep. Prodrive takes a ‘whole vehicle’ |
| require very little capital investment beyond existing | | | | approach towards the control system development |
| manual gearbox production lines. | | | | and calibration. Combined with an impartiality towards |
| “Many emerging market manufacturers have | | | | actuation hardware and base transmission |
| significant prior investment in good manual transmission | | | | configuration, this allows Prodrive to develop a system |
| facilities and cannot justify the additional investment | | | | tailored to the needs of the client and the market; for |
| required to produce planetary autos,” advises | | | | example, development of a calibration to cope with |
| Simon Leleu, Prodrive’s team leader for | | | | wide variation of vehicle weight from laden to unladen |
| transmission and driveline systems. “With our | | | | conditions. |
| technology, the existing lines can manufacture a mix of | | | | Prodrive is proud of its ability to help manufacturers |
| both AMT and manual transmissions, opening up | | | | gain their own expertise in applying AMT technology, |
| profitable new opportunities to meet growing market | | | | from specification of actuation hardware and |
| demand.” | | | | electronics to project management and sourcing of |
| The practicality of replacing a conventional manual | | | | key components. “We help the customer deliver |
| transmission with an AMT is underlined by | | | | the best overall vehicle efficiency through optimisation |
| Prodrive’s ability to offer an external conversion to | | | | of the control strategy,” concludes Leleu. |
| an existing transmission in some cases. “Even the | | | | “Ultimately, it’s all about control.” |
| synchronisers from the original transmission can | | | | About Prodrive Working from technical centres in the |
| remain,” says Leleu. “Our control system does | | | | UK, US and Australia, Prodrive provides design, |
| not need dog engagement.” Demonstrator vehicles | | | | development and manufacturing support for a wide |
| can take as little as six months to deliver once initial | | | | range of vehicle programmes. Its expertise in control |
| feasibility has been confirmed. | | | | systems, transmissions, carbon composites and |
| Demand from truck and bus operators for improved | | | | ultra-high precision small batch manufacturing is also |
| fuel economy and resistance to abuse is creating | | | | increasingly called upon to solve problems across a |
| opportunity for AMT applications; bus passenger | | | | wide range of other industries, where the |
| comfort also benefits from the improved shift quality | | | | company’s ability to deliver outstanding solutions |
| resulting from automation. “There’s a reduction | | | | extremely quickly has put its products in oil rigs, aircraft, |
| in the skill required to operate the vehicle,” continues | | | | yachts, satellites and, via its own global motorsport |
| Leleu. “This means less driver fatigue and reduces | | | | operations, many of the most successful competition |
| both transmission abuse and warranty costs.” | | | | cars ever created. |