Powertrain

Improved natural gas fuel tanks and pumps for autos ARPA-e program involves several companies, government labs, and universities developing solutions so the U.S. can take advantage of its abundant natural gas reserves. Read full story

Biofuel opportunities and pitfalls Annual growth in biofuels has been strong but is expected to slow in the near future. Read full story

Bosch Rexroth heavy-duty AWD options Bosch Rexroth calls upon in-house experience to offer the off- and on-highway industries options in all-wheel drive for a variety of applications. Read full story

Democracy and CAE at GKN Driveline CAE is no longer the sole domain of simulation specialists at GKN Driveline. A foundation architecture for handling digital test and simulation data enables wide use of complex CAE by non-specialist product engineers. Read full story

Benteler leads engineering of MAN heavy-duty serial hybrid concept Featuring a diesel engine from Audi as a range extender and modular energy storage beneath the driver’s cab, the MAN Metropolis plug-in hybrid truck concept—developed in cooperation with Benteler Engineering Services and revealed at the recent IAA Hanover Show—will begin a two-year field test as a refuse collection vehicle in January 2013. Read full story

Compressed natural gas gains momentum New commercial vehicles, onboard storage tanks, and shipping container-sized fueling stations signal the latest CNG products. Read full story

Powertrain outlook for Europe Neil Pattison, Cummins' Director of On-Highway Engine Business for EMEA & CIS, discusses Euro 6, natural gas, and hybridization at the recent IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover. Read full story

Drivetrain efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles targeted Government/industry team to study parasitic losses derived from waste energy expended in the agitation of the lubricating oil and surface-to-surface component friction, which together can account for more than a tenth of overall vehicle energy losses. Read full story

New heavy-duty Ram trucks feature Cummins diesel upgrades Highlights include oil change intervals doubled to 15,000 mi (24,000 km), introduction of urea injection with selective catalyst reduction NOx controls, and class-leading diesel torque. A dual radiator configuration and two transmission oil heat exchangers are in new front-end cooling module. Read full story