Volvo Trucks' I-Shift intelligent automated manual transmission celebrates 15 years in North America in 2021, and continues provide enhanced fuel efficiency, vehicle performance, safety and driver comfort.
Originally introduced in Europe in 2001, more than 1 million Volvo trucks around the world have been sold with the Volvo I-Shift transmission, reinforcing Volvo Trucks' belief in a clutch-based transmission system as the most efficient design for automated gear changing. The Volvo I-Shift made its North American debut in 2007, and by 2013 was a standard feature across the entire model range, resulting in a current overall order rate of 94 percent.
The Volvo I-Shift uses intelligent electronics to continuously monitor grade, speed, weight and engine load, either shifting or holding a gear as needed to conserve fuel. The transmission system is fully synchronized and integrated with the rest of the truck, using information available from both the engine and the vehicle to optimize operations for different applications and tractor-trailer combinations. The Volvo I-Shift helps professional drivers operate more efficiently, regardless of experience or training. Besides keeping fuel costs down, it can also help slow driveline wear, extend transmission life, lower maintenance costs and increase vehicle uptime.
Being an automated system, the Volvo I-Shift not only increases fuel efficiency and reduces environmental impact, it also contributes significantly to improved driveability due to its exceptionally high responsiveness and seamless shifting capabilities. Less fatigue, fewer distractions and reduced stress improves safety, driver operations and physical health - benefits that serve to enhance driver recruitment, training, performance and retention.
Additionally, the Volvo I-Shift transmission has the capability of over-the-air programming, enabling easy customizations of transmission software and shift logic to accommodate changes in application, duty cycles, terrain and driver preference. By using Volvo Trucks' Remote Programming services, software updates are done within minutes rather than visiting a workshop and taking the truck out of service, greatly increasing uptime.
