Detroit Diesel Corp. is making its Intelligent Powertrain Management (IPM) system standard on all Detroit DT12 automated manual transmissions paired with any heavy-duty Detroit engine, beginning in March 2015.
IPM helps the powertrain operate as efficiently as possible, based on the truck’s momentum generated by the terrain. It integrates pre-loaded terrain maps and GPS into engine and transmission functions to know the route ahead, up to one mile.
The main goal of IPM is to use the momentum of the truck most efficiently to reduce fuel consumption, Detroit said. It achieves this by preventing unnecessary shifts, predictively engine braking and fueling, shifting optimally, and precisely controlling eCoast events.
IPM is automatically ‘on’ once the driver engages cruise control, so benefits of IPM are variable based on the percent of time the driver operates in cruise control, and the variably of the route traveled. Since Intelligent Powertrain Management uses the momentum of the truck to most efficiently move down the road, a route with varied topography (but no extreme change in elevations) provides the optimal opportunity for IPM to improve fuel economy, the company said.
“Intelligent Powertrain Management technology employs many of the same behaviors that an experienced driver uses behind the wheel, but in many situations take actions that even the most experienced driver would be unable to employ such as engaging eCoast before cresting a hill. Ultimately actions like this will help all drivers achieve greater efficiency with less fatigue,” said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. “We want to give our customers the most advanced technologies available to lower to their ‘Real Cost of Ownership’, and IPM is a key part of that strategy.”
For example, when approaching a grade, IPM will increase road speed to allow the vehicle to climb the hill with the fewest downshifts possible. IPM will also engage eCoast or stop fueling the engine before cresting a hill, using the truck’s momentum instead. When heading down a hill, IPM plans for this by automatically accelerating to increase the truck’s momentum, based on the approaching terrain. IPM will also keep eCoast engaged for longer periods of time with fewer interruptions, further benefiting fuel economy.
