Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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PRODUCT REVIEWS, OEM & SUPPLIER NEWS AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT TRENDS BY JACK ROBERTS ➡ ROBUST RECOVERY. So complete have been Mitsubishi Fuso's efforts to rebuild after the earth- quake that evidence of the disaster is scant. ➡ SNEAK PEEK. Anyone wondering about Daimler Trucks' future regarding alt-fuels and powertrains should keep an eye on Mitsubishi Fuso. ➡ POWER TO THE FUTURE. If the company's trucks for the Japanese market handle as well as the Can- ter, it has many successful years ahead. Under the theme "Power to the Future," Fuso presented four vehicles, including the new Canter Eco Hy- brid light-duty truck, the Canter E-Cell electric truck, the first public exhibition of the Super Great Eco Hybrid heavy-duty truck and a display of the Aero Queen bus with advanced diesel technology. In addition, the com- pany showcased its new light-duty truck hybrid system and advanced selective catalytic reduction exhaust gas after- treatment system. All of which brings us to the new Canter with its dual-clutch Duonic transmission. Unlike the four models unveiled in Tokyo, this medium- duty truck is available in North America today. I was lucky enough to score an extended test drive on the eve of my visit to Japan and see for myself how Fuso's new technology is shaping the company's products and will shape Daimler's products in the future. The new Canter's dual-clutch transmission provides the feeling of driving a much more pow- erful vehicle thanks to its timely intuitive shifting – even though a fuel-sipping four-cylinder diesel engine is under the seat. The new Canter is strong evidence that Mitsubishi Fuso is set to launch a wide range of innovative new products that will have a dramatic impact on Daimler vehicles worldwide. JACK ROBERTS is Executive Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail jroberts@ccjmagazine.com or call (205) 248-1358. Dana, Eaton to part ways Dana and Eaton jointly announced last month that the marketing relationship between the two companies will end by the middle of 2012. Over the next six months, each company will be preparing to sell to, market to and service customers independently. Eaton will continue to provide field services and support for all Eaton and Dana products through the middle of 2012 under the Roadranger brand, after which Dana will have the support systems in place to service and support its customers on its own. "Going to market independently will afford Dana greater op- portunity to communicate with customers directly and to better understand their needs," said Mark Wallace, president of Dana's On-Highway Driveline Technologies business. "This closer direct relationship with customers will, in turn, provide the foundation for innovation and technology in Dana's core axle, driveshaft, wheel end and tire management systems." Dana is developing new products for introduction in early 2012, said Judith Monte, global marketing manager. "It's very, very impor- tant to make sure we're in with our customers every single day to get their feedback," Monte said. Eaton has been selling and servicing transmissions under its Roadranger brand for about 60 years. "Eaton intends to continue operating the Roadranger marketing organization as we have in the past – focused exclusively on serving our customers," said Tim Sin- den, president of Eaton's truck operations in North America. Throughout the transition, cus- tomers can access www.roadranger. com/alliance or www.dana.com for updates. – Max Heine Cummins developing new urea dosing system Cummins Emission Solutions is in the advanced devel- opment stages of a new urea dosing system designed to meet upcoming emissions regulations in China, India and Russia. The new EcoFit Urea Dosing System also will debut as the EcoFit brand, which will represent Cummins Emis- sion Solutions aftertreatment products and solutions worldwide. The EcoFit system is being developed for use in light-duty, midrange and heavy-duty commercial vehicles for easy integration into existing engine and aftertreatment systems. The system will be manufactured at the Cummins Emission Solutions facility in Beijing. The EcoFit system is a reductant delivery system that injects a solu- tion of 32.5 percent urea and 67.5 percent diesel exhaust fluid into the exhaust stream to deliver improved nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency, which gives customers the opportunity to tune engines for improved fuel economy or to reduce the size of a typical SCR system. COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JANUARY 2012 25