18 new J-Bus models from Isuzu and Hino Motors’ joint venture will go into operation with JR Kyushu Bus; the fleet reports 0.5 km/litre better fuel efficiency with fully automatics v. automated manual transmissions (AMTs).
TOKYO – Eighteen new medium-sized J-Bus city buses equipped with Allison’s T280™ fully automatic transmission and operated by JR Kyushu Bus, will go into service this year in Kyushu, Japan, the country’s third largest and southernmost island.
Previously, JR Kyushu Bus downsized the engines of its large city J-Bus models, from eight to five litres. Those with fully automatic transmissions powered by Allison torque converters performed particularly well. This positive experience led the fleet to specify Allison fully automatic transmissions on its 18 mid-sized fixed-route buses as they are replaced in 2022. J-Bus, the joint venture between Isuzu and Hino Motors, started to offer Allison transmission in its medium-sized city buses in August 2020.
“When we put downsized engines into large buses of about the same weight as the previous buses, I was worried that performance might suffer. However, thanks to the Allison fully automatic transmissions, the more powerful torque enabled the buses to climb steep inclines with confidence even in the lower RPM range. All of our drivers were amazed,” said Tsuyoshi Moribe, Executive Managing Director at JR Kyushu Bus.
“What’s more, the onboard computer learns the buses’ traveling patterns, and the drivers were clearly surprised at how quickly it learned. Since different drivers operate different buses every day, the new transmissions have allowed us to lessen shift interrupts and achieve a consistently comfortable ride regardless of driver skill,” concluded Moribe.
According to data compiled by JR Kyushu Bus, buses with Allison Automatics achieve a 0.5 km/litre better fuel efficiency per bus compared to the same bus with an automated manual transmission (AMT). The company’s existing fleet of six Allison fully automatic transmission-equipped buses saves an annual total of 3,240 litres of fuel, significantly reducing costs.
JR Kyushu buses run throughout the cities of Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga and Kagoshima. Many routes start in highly congested urban areas before transporting passengers outside the city into rugged mountain terrain with steep roads. They are supported by Allison Japan’s official direct dealer for the Kyushu region, Chikuho Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Buses with Allison fully automatic transmissions automatically control gear change timing via the onboard computer, which ensures smooth gear changes regardless of driver skill and gets passengers to their destinations in comfort. Additionally, without the need to focus on gear changes gears, drivers can concentrate on driving safely.
Fully automatics avoid the need for clutch replacements, which incur maintenance costs and time. Allison’s prognostic function monitors the condition of the transmission, as well as the transmission fluid and filter, displaying status indicators and replacement times on the shift selector, thus helping to reduce unexpected failures and vehicle downtime.
Allison is currently the market leader in automatic transmissions for large city buses in Japan. With outstanding products and aftersales service, Allison leverages its expertise to support reliable and comfortable fixed-route bus services for Japan’s city dwellers.
Image -J-Bus large city bus operated by JR Kyushu Bus
Image – City buses with Allison’s fully automatic transmission enjoy smooth driving performance with Allison’s patented Continuous Power Technology™
Image – JR Kyushu Bus Co., Ltd.
(right) Tsuyoshi Moribe, Executive Managing Director, JR Kyushu Bus Co., Ltd.
(left) Takeshi Tanaka, Deputy General Manager of Transportation Sales Department, JR Kyushu Bus Co., Ltd.
Image – Shift selector of the Allison fully automatic transmission.
Image – The Allison T280™, a 6-speed automatic transmission optimised for medium and large city buses, is highly regarded for its torque converter, which provides torque multiplication, allowing even buses with smaller engines to start smoothly and powerfully.
February 2nd 2022
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles, the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions, and a leader in electrified propulsion systems that Improve the Way the World Works. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a presence in more than 150 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India, as well as global engineering resources, including electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auburn Hills, Michigan and London in the United Kingdom. Allison also has more than 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.