Team CVF as part of its “Knowledge Series” managed to get a short interview with the Industry Expert Vice President – Engine Development of Ashok Leyland to present the expert’s perspective on the Indian CV industry. Refer below to the Q&A session on CV industry developments from a expert’s perspective.

1. In the truck industry technical challenges increase due to legislation, either voluntary or enforced and these are pushing the technology envelop. In your opinion, where is this technological journey today and how is it expected to evolved?

Agreed.  Technical challenges increased due to legislation either voluntary or involuntary enforcements.  This is due to evolutionary changes.  Today, we foresee Euro 6 across country by 2020 for a green future.  We have green fuels like CNG, Bio-Diesel, Ethonol etc. on specific regions, and the electric vehicles are being under discussion.  De-carbonization of fuel leading to zero emission and pollution-free environment are responsible for this evolution. In addition to GST, new telematics, infotainment are also on the way being the part towards this evolution.

The lag in emission norms from Europe has helped the Indian Industry to adopt the learning & experience and use this to incorporate cost effective technologies.  We may lose advantage in the race to catch up.

However, the auto industry is not only compliant to legislation; but also dearer to customers.  Hence, voluntarily forward reliability by predictive engineering, keeping up-time  all tracks, lowering operating expense  for customer, safety [including autonomous vehicle] etc.

2.      For diesel engines it is clear that meeting the emission standards will be a big challenge especially without a negative trade off on fuel consumption? How has this changed the finer budgetary spends on the engine R&D?

Having Euro 6 legislation declared, this is a valid and all automotive industry are sensitive to this.  Of course, every R & D organization of an OEM has to spend substantially in next five years.  May be around 25% more expenses than yester years.  Interestingly, a tough job ahead around 900 persons near have to spend from an OEM and equal amount from suppliers & partners. Also, four times the effort compared to BS4.

3. “With trucks in India usually operating at higher than specified loads this combined with legislative pressures to control.” Keeping above statement in mind engine development is becoming complex (balancing the factors such as pressure fluctuations, combustions phenomena and engine speeds) How are these challenges being managed in engine development?

Engine development has a correlation with respect to emission.  That too developing for BS 6 requirements has a herculean task.  Advance electronics, close loop controls, real time monitoring are being applied to engine as well as after treatment system to have consistency and robustness on development.  AL uses clever methodology still to manage with less electronics.  Also we may have to work on light weight technology from bumper to bumper.

Higher loads’ but at the same time lower average speeds presents an interesting combination.  Due to this, we use smaller engines in India and hence, need different strategies for FE & Emission.

4. How far is India in adoption of Hybrid engines and automatic transmission in the trucking space?

It is just beginning.  We have also shown few products with our technological capability.  You might have seen that we have just launched fully built Electric Bus called Circuit.  Many more to come in the pipeline; right now in Electric and Hybrid.  The complete Electric vehicle is possible only through Government subsidies.

Automatic transmission will go in parallel.  But, you could see a slow evolution and smooth transition.  Electric vehicle needs strong infrastructure including advance battery technology development at an affordable cost, faster charging etc.  The automatic transmission is need of the hour for convenience, comfort and to negotiate heavy traffic,  uneven roads, gradient etc.

5. Engine is like a heart to the machine. Once duty cycle requirements are established then appropriate sections can be made such as axle ratio, transmission etc. How are these aspects changing with change in the “heart” of the machine?

A driveline match with respect to torque shape of engine is order of the day.  Hence, drive duty cycle is defined.  Every engine can matched with suitable driveline aggregate aiming at drivability and fuel economy.  We use adequately simulation and software to arrive at the same and find tune while testing since three decades this is the practice and it has been established now to balance both.

6.  Will India witness a shift from manual to automated transmission, if not in light than heavy truck category?

Yes – True.  It is inevitable with the don of E-Commerce.  Of course, LCV, Passenger Car and offering a time long haul truck while witness the shift.  May be three years later.