Allison Transmission

Allison Transmission is a manufacturer of automatic transmissions for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle applications. The company's headquarters are located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The original Indianapolis plant dates to the September 14, 1915 founding of the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company by James A. Allison(1872-1928). Changing its name in 1918 to the Allison Experimental Company, the company contributed to the United States' buildup to fight World War I. In 1909, James Allison started the Indianapolis 500 race to prove the automobile components they manufactured. Now known as the Allison Engineering Company, Allison produced bearings for the Liberty engine.

General Motors purchased the company in 1929 on the death of the founder, becoming the Allison Division in 1934. The company's V1710 12-cylinder aircraft engine made the Allison Engine Company a major force in aviation. In the 1960s, the company produced the M551 Sheridan light tank and the M109 howitzer for the Military of the United States.

In the 1940s, Allison introduced the CD-850 tank transmission, transforming the company again. The company's MT-25 was its first major success in on-road transmissions, and the company continues to produce high-torque automatic transmissions today. Allison six-speed automatic transmissions can commonly be found fitted to buses from
Motor Coach Industries.

In 1948 the B modle transmission was Allison first automatic transmission to be used for commercial use. This transmission was to be used in busses and in 1955 the CT4 modle transmission would be the first fully automatic transmission to be used in the trucking idustry

In 1987 Roger Penske acquired 80% of the Detroit Diesel/Allison division of General Motors. GM retains manufacturing responsibilities while Penske controles all sales and service functions.

In addition to its Indianapolis plant, Allison operates manufacturing facilities in Baltimore (US), Szentgotthard (Hungary), and Santo Amaro (Brazil).

On June 28, 2007, GM announced that it was selling its Allison unit to private equity firms The Carlyle Group and Onex Corporation, in a deal valued at $5.6 billion. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070628/bs_nm/gm_allison_dc_4;_ylt=AkwQPdUq52K03zZMJhbtWKIE1vAI Reuters/Yahoo! News: "GM selling Allison for $5.6 billion," 2007-06-28] ] . The transaction closed on August 7, 2007. GM retains the Baltimore plant, which produces the 1000 Series transmission used in GM medium duty pickup trucks.

Allison Transmission developed the hybrid electric technology that General Motors will use in the forthcoming hybrid-drive vehicles, and is incorporated in hybrid propulsion systems for buses primarily assembled by New Flyer Industries and Gillig Corporation. [http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/300_hybrids/fact_hybrid_bus.html]

Products

* Allison AT transmission — AT540, AT542, AT543, AT545
* Allison MT transmission — MT640, MT643, MT644, MT647, MT648, MT650, MT653DR, MT654CR, MTB643, MTB644, MTB647, MTB648, MTB653DR, MTB654CR, MT30, MT41, MT42
* Allison 1000 transmission — 1000, 2000, 2400
* Allison 3000 transmission — MD3060, MD3060P, MD3560, MD3560P, MD3066, MD3066P
* Allison 4000 transmission — HD4060, HD4060P, HD4560, HD4560P
* Allison HT transmission — HT740D, HT740RS, HT741, HT746, HT747, HT748, HTB748, HT750CRD, HT750DRD, HT754CRD, HT755CRD, HT755DRD, HTB755CRD, HTB755DRD
* Allison V transmission — VH, VH2, VH4, VH5, VH6, VH7, VH9, VS1, VS2-6, VS2-8, V730, V731, VR731, VR731RH
* EP40 & EP 50 Hybrid Electric Drive Units
* Allison World Transmissions - B300, B300R, B400, B400R, B500, B500R

Major Component Groups

Allison transmissions are made up of ten different modules
* Torque Converter Module
* Torque Converter Housing Module
* Control Module
* Front support/Charging Pump Module
* Rotating Clutch Module
* Rear Cover Module
* Main Shaft Module
* P1 Planetary Module
* P2 Planetary Module
* Main Housing Module

Hybrid buses transit clients

GM-Allison debuted the hybrid technology for transit buses in 2003. Through 2011, it intends to introduce 16 hybrid models. http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_economy/news/2008/hybrids/hybrid_bus_012308.jsp]

In 2008, the number of GM-Allison hybrid buses are more than 2,700 units in 81 cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. . This includes:

* ABQ RIDE
* Dresden, Germany
* King County Metro Transit Authority
* Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metro Transit
* Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
* Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
* Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

References

External links

* [http://www.allisontransmission.com Allison Transmission Official site]

Hybrid buses

* [http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_economy/news/2008/hybrids/hybrid_bus_012308.jsp Hybrid buses will save an estimated 2.4 million gallons of fuel annually in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Minneapolis/St. Paul]
* [http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_economy/news/2008/hybrids/istanbul_05l508.jsp Low-Emissions Hybrid Buses] .