Truck rentals are on the rise. After a span of more than two years, the commercial vehicle segment is showing some signs of revival. Contributing owards this revival would be the lifting of ban on mining in Karnataka and Goa by the Supreme Court of India. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle enquiries are on the rise. A good part of these segments includes shallow mining tippers in the 25-31-tonne range, and deep mining tippers in the 49-tonne range. Both these support infrastructure and construction projects, proving to be as important as any other earth moving and construction equipment.

With demand for tippers likely to pick up sooner than later, factors like rising fuel prices are certain to have operators grappling with Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). They are also likely to face other issues like the need for skilled drivers. For drivers are an intrinsic part of the TCO. The way they drive greatly influences the life and fuel efficiency of tippers. Enough to make the use of Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) effective over a manual transmission. Most deep mining tippers are equipped with automatic transmissions, which largely reduces the influence of different driving styles, helping the machines offer optimum efficiency. It is the shallow mining tippers, which stand to profit from AMTs. Most are equipped with manual transmissions, and therefore affected by different driving styles, which have a substantial influence on their TCO. Taking away the task of changing cogs; and operating the clutch from the driver, an AMT has an uncanny ability to reduce the influence of different driving styles. It is this very premise that has ZF working on introducing AMTs in India. The German supplier, with a strong presence in India, is working towards turning its 9-speed Ecomid manual transmission into an AMT by adding the necessary hardware and software. According to a source close to the company, AMTs enhance fuel efficiency in case of different driving styles, and are less costlier as well as easy to maintain (and repair) compared to automatic transmission. ZF expects AMTs to enjoy a good demand by 2019-2020.

Also betting big on AMTs is Wabco. A global supplier of technologies and control systems for the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, Wabco is offering OptiDrive, which combines the ease-of-use of an automatic transmission with the efficiency of a manual transmission. A modular system, it frees the driver from frequent gear shifting and improves vehicle control as well as operational safety. The beauty of this AMT is that it takes into account parameters such as driver's operating style, engine torque, vehicle load and road conditions (incline, etc), to optimise gearshifts and help achieve the best fuel efficiency. Said P Kaniappan, Managing Director, Wabco India, "We have been working on AMT programmes in India with major commercial vehicle manufacturers for their respective truck and bus platforms." He expressed further that the company would derive many benefits by adopting the technology.

AMTs amount for about one third of the price automotive manufacturers charge for multi-ratio transmissions according to Piyush Munot, Managing Director ZF India. He is of the opinion that AMTs significantly reduce fuel consumption, and therefore CO2 emissions. AMTs in comparison to a vehicle with manual transmission and an identical engine, according to Munot, consume five to ten per cent less fuel. AMTs could also work with hybrid technology with an additional electric motor on board. If the capability of working with hybrid technology makes AMT a technology that will last into the future, Swedish truckmaker Volvo will offer automated manual transmission (AMT) technology on its FMX series of trucks for mining operations in India. The company plans to launch the new FMX series of trucks in India next year according to Phillippe Divry, Senior Vice President AB Volvo, and VECV Board Member. The I-Shift AMT on FMX series tippers is designed to integrate seamlessly with all Volvo engines. Using microprocessor technology, I-Shift continuously monitors changes in grade, vehicle speed, acceleration, torque demand, weight, and air resistance. The I-Shift automatically selects the best gear for the engine, allowing every driver to shift like a fuel-efficiency expert. This puts less stress on the driveline, for longer life and less maintenance. Also it helps in fuel efficiency and driver comfort.

With products in the construction and tipper segment expected to show signs of revival earlier than other commercial vehicles segments according to the spokesperson at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, AMTs could contribute a big deal towards achieving a low TCO. At a time when fuel costs are only expected to rise further, and with it, also the costs of other consumables.