Allison Transmission Drives Adoption of Alternative Fuel Through Fuel-Agnostic Propulsion Solutions

With the rising price of diesel top of mind for commercial vehicle fleets, many are exploring alternative fuel solutions to reduce fuel costs in the future and support ongoing efforts to improve sustainability across the globe.

Allison Transmission’s propulsion solutions are fuel agnostic, meaning they can accommodate any fuel type. From traditional diesel and gasoline to natural gas and hydrogen combustion, Allison fully automatic transmissions pair well with several energy sources delivering durable and reliable fully automatic transmissions designed to support fleets in their efforts to increase overall productivity and efficiency while also strengthening sustainability and emission-reduction initiatives.

Natural Gas Engines Deliver Cleaner, Quieter Operation

Commercial vehicles that use natural gas can drastically reduce operating costs. This cost savings combined with the environmental benefits of natural gas results in an industry-leading solution for fleets. Allison transmissions have been paired with natural gas engines for decades. Fully automatic transmissions have the ability to maximize the performance of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with both compressed and liquefied natural gas engines. Allison’s Continuous Power Technology™ does not require power interrupts during range shifts with CNG and LNG engines. This is something that has proven impossible for manual and automated manual transmissions (AMT), which require power interrupts at near-zero output during shifts. Allison’s torque converter multiplies engine torque to significantly improve startability, drivability and overall productivity in order to compensate for the lower power and torque-per-cylinder displacement associated with CNG and LNG engines. This means vehicles don’t suffer from the throttle-response delays seen with manual or AMTs.

When paired with a natural gas engine, Allison automatics deliver up to 90% noise reduction compared to a diesel-powered vehicle. Cleaner and quieter engines lead to an improved experience for drivers and their passengers and the environment. Natural gas vehicles offer a variety of fuel benefits, which are amplified by Allison transmissions. Our torque converter supports the engine during frequent start-stop duty-cycles, enabling peak fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions to further support the environment through cleaner air.  

As an example of Allison’s approach being implemented in commercial vehicle applications, one of the largest private fleets in North America, and a major wholesale restaurant food distributor, recently chose to pair the award-winning Allison 3414 Regional Haul Series™️ transmission with a Cummins X12N natural gas engine in a Freightliner Cascadia® tractor. This combination provides the fleet with optimal efficiency and performance while reducing fuel consumption and emissions to support sustainability efforts.

The vehicles, which will be put into service in California, were specifically designed to meet emissions standards outlined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The 3414 RHS offers up to 8% fuel economy improvement over the Allison 3000 Highway Series™ transmission and provides 25% faster acceleration when compared to competitive AMTs. The Freightliner Cascadia natural gas-equipped tractors offer clean engine technology, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% versus comparable diesel engines. The natural gas vehicle’s ability to provide cleaner air through reduced GHG levels, combined with noise reduction capabilities, will help keep local neighborhoods and delivery locations quieter and drivers more comfortable.

Hydrogen Offers Alternative Energy Source for Commercial Vehicles

 Hydrogen is another clean energy source that has proven successful in commercial vehicle applications. As a range extender in fuel cell applications, hydrogen has the ability to extend vehicle range as well as reduce on-board battery requirements. This enables zero-emission operation while mitigating range anxiety for fleets. Similar to battery charging in electric vehicles, hydrogen fueling infrastructure is still limited and will need to expand in order to enable wide-scale adoption of this alternative fuel solution.

In terms of hydrogen combustion, engine manufacturers have invested in researching this topic significantly in recent years. Similar to natural gas engines, Allison’s fully automatic transmissions integrate well with hydrogen-based engines. Allison transmissions support various hydrogen-fueled propulsion systems around the world, using both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. One example is the Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first fuel cell heavy-duty truck, which are operational with commercial fleets in Switzerland. The vehicle, equipped with the Allison 4500 fully automatic transmission with retarder, is powered by a 190 kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system with dual 95 kilowatt fuel cell stacks.

In addition, earlier this year, Allison was selected to provide the propulsion system for the U.K.’s first hydrogen fuel cell refuse collection vehicle. Aberdeen City Council paired a 250 kilowatt Hyzon electric motor with an Allison 3000 Series™ transmission in conjunction with a 45 kilowatt fuel cell. This truck is the latest step in the ‘H2 Aberdeen’ initiative, which aims to bring about a hydrogen economy in the city’s region. In 2018, Aberdeen City Council deployed the U.K.’s first hydrogen-powered sweeper vehicle, which also features an Allison transmission. The council’s decision to select the 3000 Series transmission is a testament to the capability of Allison’s dynamic portfolio of propulsion solutions, which can support and optimize emerging propulsion technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.

Allison Innovation Will Support Adoption of Alternative Fuel Solutions

As more commercial vehicle fleets look to adopt vehicles driven by alternative fuel solutions, Allison is well equipped to help customers obtain peak performance from natural gas- and hydrogen-powered engines, no matter the application or duty-cycle. The company’s breadth of product offerings and ability to match torque converter options across a wide range of engine power and torque characteristics make Allison fully automatic transmissions the ideal choice to pair with any fuel source.

This is all in addition to Allison’s fully electric portfolio of e-Axles that also extend our position of fuel-agnostic power source, battery or fuel cell. Allison’s eGen Power® series of fully integrated electric axles are agnostic to the electric energy source and are compatible with both full battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. The e-Axles are designed to fit between the wheels of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, replacing the vehicle’s traditional powertrain.