211 Zhongtong CNG city buses equipped with Allison T 270TM transmissions will provide commuters in Armenia’s capital with a greener, more convenient and comfortable way to travel
BEIJING, September 2021 – Allison Transmission and leading Chinese bus manufacturer Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. have collaborated to deliver 211 compressed natural gas (CNG) city buses equipped with Allison T 270TM transmissions with retarder to the Armenian capital of Yerevan.
Yerevan sought a bus suitable for its hot summers, cold winters and narrow downtown roads. It was decided that due to their environmental credentials and lower noise compared to buses with diesel engines, natural gas buses fitted best in the intensely populated metropolis. Catering for inner city traffic, the 8-metre long low-entry Zhongtong CNG bus was chosen to meet the operational needs of Yerevan’s public transport.
The Zhongtong bus has 25 seats and is rated for 60 passengers. It is powered by a 200 hp Weichai CNG Euro V engine and an Allison T 270 fully automatic transmission with gross input torque of 900 Nm. The transmission has six forward speeds, one reverse and an integral retarder, which extends the life of the brakes and lowers maintenance costs.
“Allison’s fully automatic transmission has Allison’s patented Continuous Power Technology™, which delivers smoother, seamless shifts providing superior passenger comfort, ” said Zhang Zhengwei, Director of Zhongtong Bus North China. “It’s torque converter technology multiplies engine torque to significantly improve startability and launch, resulting in higher operational productivity which maximises the benefits of a natural gas engine.”
Allison Automatics are perfectly suited to natural gas engines on city buses. While a manual or automated manual transmission (AMT) loses power with every shift, an Allison fully automatic transmission increases power and accelerated speed, achieving better fuel economy and less pollutant emission.
“Allison’s products offer high reliability, stability, greater fuel economy and easier control of the bus that greatly reduce driver’s stress. Allison Automatics are ideal for city buses in heavy traffic conditions,” continued Zhang.
Allison fully automatic transmissions take away driver distraction and remove cumbersome shifting so the driver can focus on handling and manoeuvring the bus, especially critical in heavy traffic situations and narrow roads. Allison Automatics also help fleets expand their potential driver pool. While today’s drivers are less familiar with driving manual transmissions, fully automatics are easy to drive. Even the most experienced drivers benefit from more precise, safe handling and improved comfort.
Like all Allison fully automatic transmissions, the Allison T 270 transmission features Allison’s 5th Generation Electronic Controls, which offer an enhanced array of smart controls designed for the specific needs of any application. Allison fully automatics require only periodic oil and filter changes meaning less downtime and lower life-cycle costs, thus achieving greater vehicle reliability with more uptime.
“The partnership between Zhongtong and Allison began in 2007 and the two sides have established a sustainable relationship for more than a decade. Allison is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles, with a large global sales and service network. We will continue to provide high quality products and services to Zhongtong,” said David Wu, General Manager of Allison Transmission China.
Image – 211 Zhongtong CNG city buses equipped with Allison T270TM fully automatic transmissions, with retarder, have been shipped to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Image -“Allison’s products offer high reliability, stability, greater fuel economy and easier control of the bus that greatly reduce driver’s stress. Allison automatics are ideal for city buses in heavy traffic conditions.” said Zhang Zhengwei, Director of Zhongtong Bus North China.
Image – Allison T 270 fully automatic transmission with retarder.
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.