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Hino goes fully automatic

The Hino 300 light truck range has the unique operability advantages of a state-of-the-art six-speed fully automatic transmission. The intelligent

The Hino 300 light truck range has the unique operability advantages of a state-of-the-art six-speed fully automatic transmission.

The intelligent electronically-controlled transmission has features not previously available in an Australian light-duty truck transmission.

These include a fuel-saving torque converter lock-up function that operates from second to sixth gear by physically linking the converter, effectively changing the converter from a fluid coupling into a mechanical coupling.

The result is no slippage, and therefore virtually no power loss – to optimise fuel savings while retaining stress-free, smooth and safe operation in all driving situations.

The Hino 300 automatic transmission also has Idle Neutral, a unique feature designed to save fuel by internally switching the transmission to neutral whenever the truck is stationary and the brakes are applied.

This reduces drivetrain load and offers significant improvements in fuel economy – with fuel savings of two to four per cent in city and urban driving environments.

The learning characteristics of the intelligent transmission mean that it can comfortably adapt and optimise its operation to the driving style of each driver.

Hino Australia marketing manager Alex Stewart says the availability of a fully automatic transmission in Hino 300 increases the range of drivers who can safely operate the vehicles and is a boon to truck rental operators.

“Hino introduced the six-speed automatic transmission with the launch of the 300 range in February 2007 and it is still the only fully automatic transmission in the light-duty segment,” he said.

“It debuted, at the same time, advances in engine technology designed to meet Australian Design Rule 80/02 emission requirements, while retaining and in many models boosting fuel economy.

“We see it as the preferred choice in light-duty trucks for many operators, including rental fleets and applications where drivers do not come from the ranks of professional truck drivers,” he says.

Leading transmission supplier Aisin manufactures the transmission for Hino, using state-of-the-art design features and software.

“The actual transmission is as compact as a conventional four-speed automatic transmission. It has electronic features similar to and in some cases better than those in a luxury car or 4WD transmission,” Stewart says.

In addition to the five-ratio lock-up torque converter function and Idle Neutral feature, the Hino 300 fully automatic transmission has so-called “fuzzy logic” and hill-descent control.

Fuzzy logic in effect reads the road, selecting the most appropriate gear for hill climbs and hill descents. It does this based on predefined values such as throttle pedal position, vehicle GVM, engine revolutions and vehicle speed.

It holds the transmission in the most suitable gear when climbing or descending, thereby reducing gear shifts and “hunting”.

Hill-descent control is a by-product of fuzzy logic, wherein the transmission’s electronic control unit determines when the vehicle is travelling down hill.

If the driver releases the accelerator pedal with the exhaust brake activated while descending a hill, the transmission will select the most appropriate gear to optimise exhaust brake operation.

This slows the vehicle with the minimum use of the service brakes and therefore reduces brake pad wear.

Stewart says the design features and gear ratios of the Hino 300 automatic transmission optimised both the hill-starting and cruising ability of the automatic models.

“These transmissions have a torque stall ratio of 1.951 coupled with 3.742:1 first-gear ratio – meaning impressive hill-starting ability.

“The 0.634:1 overdrive (sixth) ratio and lock-up torque converter means lower engine revolutions at cruising speed than the equivalent manual models – with the driving ease of an automatic and the fuel economy reflective of a manual transmission.

“We’re offering the fully automatic six-speed automatic on Hino 300 414, as well as on 614 through to 816 – so there is an automatic model in each GVM range, including Standard and Wide-cabin models.

“A power take off unit (PTO) is also available, thereby expanding the already vast number of applications and operating conditions that the Hino 300 Automatic models suit.”

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