AVTR from Ashok Leyland combines BSVI technology with modularisation.
Story by Deepti Thore
Unveiling its modularisation strategy last year along with the move up to BSVI emission control technology, Ashok Leyland has launched a new range of trucks in the 18.5-tonnes to 55-tonnes range under the AVTR nomenclature. Highlighting an ability to be at home in the Indian market as well as the exports markets in either a right-hand drive guise or a left-hand drive guise, the new modular BSVI trucks (the SCR and iEGR-based BSVI technology is termed as ‘i-Gen6’ and ‘Mid-NOx’ by the company) are configurable by the buyer as per his requirements of duty cycle, load and other factors. Empowering CV buyers from different walks of life to configure a vehicle of their choice, may it be mining, construction, e-commerce, cement, etc., the AVTR CVs could be had in over six lakh combinations. Offering the buyer the ability to choose key aggregates like engine (there is a choice of five engines from 200 hp to 600 hp), chassis (as per the loading span, loading type, etc.), suspension, cab, axles, wheels, drivetrains, and load body or superstructure, the new modular BSVI CVs from Ashok Leyland have been broadly positioned across rigid, tipper and tractor segments.
Stopping short of the kind of configuration-ability Scania offers to its truck buyers, the AVTR CVs from Ashok Leyland signal a significant change in the surface transport ecosystem in the country as well as the world in the face of some unprecedented challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic. Conducting a virtual launch of its new medium- and heavy-duty modular BSVI trucks, the CV maker, reiterating its ambition to be the 10th largest CV player in the world through reliable and differentiated products and solutions, revealed that it invested Rs.500 crore in the new project.
Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director and CEO, Ashok Leyland, expressed, “Arriving at a time when the business environment looks volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, the AVTR CVs reflect an ability to innovate; to offer path breaking and customer-centric products.” He mentioned, “The AVTR CVs offer agility, frugality and speed.” Stressing on the short span of (three years) to develop BSVI technology against the time-frame of 8 to 10 years in advanced markets to develop BSVI technology, Sondhi averred, “For us, it did not amount to just an upgrade. It instead amounted to a journey that would spring a unique modular product strategy.”
By the CV buyer, for the CV buyer
Carrying out substantial changes to its plants (the economic slowdown provided just the opportunity), the AVTR medium-duty and heavy-duty CVs started development some four to five years ago. Work began by looking at what the market wanted, and what the future of trucking would look like. Remarked Sondhi, “Apart from the strengths and technologies, we looked at implementing stronger processes. We banked on extensive testing in our test laboratories as well as in the challenging field conditions.” An outcome of much testing and validation, the AVTR CVs are thus poised to bridge the gap between the CV maker and its customers and take it to a new operating level. Witnessing the involvement of 450 engineers, four million man-hours and six million km of testing and validation, the new modular BSVI CVs, according to Anuj Kathuria, COO, Ashok Leyland, have been designed by the customer and for himself. Ashok Leyland only delivers them.
If the ability to change drive orientation from right to left or vice versa should provide an in-sight into the AVTR CVs breeding potential, the fact that they are engineered to further lower the TCO is worth tagging. Said Kathuria, “The AVTR CVs have been designed and engineered to significantly improve operator profitability.” Offered with a choice of different cabs and a cowl-chassis, the new modular BSVI CVs from Ashok Leyland have been fitted with durable aggregates that promise best-in-class performance, superior reliability, maximum uptime and superior mileage. Designed and developed to drive manufacturing synergies internally and drive the company’s ambition to explore new markets (exports markets of Gulf and the African continent for example) as well as new territories on the outside, the AVTR CVs have been built to deliver outstanding stakeholder value. Claimed to offer superior fluid dynamics, the new modular BSVI trucks are known to leverage developments in IoT and AI.
The TCO advantage
Laced with safe and ergonomically well-designed cabs that are modern and spacious, the AVTR CVs have longer oil drain intervals and filter change intervals (up to 25 per cent for fuel filter change for example) in the interest of lowering the TCO.
Employing maintenance-free aggregates in areas like suspension, driveline and axles, which require no greasing, the new modular BSVI CVs, according to N. Saravanan, CTO, Ashok Leyland Ltd., provide the customer with a big advantage of digitally communicating with his or her vehicle in the interest of monitoring its performance, its upkeep and achieving higher business sustainability. Doing away with the need to adjust the clutch booster and CSO cable, the AVTR CVs, said Saravanan, provide the buyer (operator) a significant advantage to configure his or her vehicle and connect with it in an environment that is fluid and challenging. Revealing that modularisation has actually helped lower the manufacturing costs as the number of parts (inventory) have reduced, the supply chain has got streamlined right up to the dealer and spares end, Saravanan informed, “The AVTR trucks have fewer parts, standardised interfaces and modules.”
Subjected to rigorous testing (in every possible terrain, every possible environmental conditions and every possible load application condition) spanning over six million kilometers and involving over 100 prototypes, the AVTR CVs, as per the Ashok Leyland officials, present new possibilities and opportunities to buyers to increase his earning potential despite the challenges. Expected to present new possibilities and opportunities to the CV maker as well, the new modular BSVI CVs were treated to over two lakh hours of stimulation tests and over 30 hours of system tests during their development. Like lego sets, according to Saravanan, they combine different aggregates under the prospect of modularity to arrive at different models; models that are best suited for their field of operation. Undergoing rigorous lab level tests and field level tests (like anti-lock test brake test, cab durability and strength test, double lane change test for safe handling, high altitude and high temperature test, etc.) to evaluate their accessibility, durability, efficiency, performance and more, the new BSVI modular CVs from Ashok Leyland have their interfaces well-defined and well-configured. They are thus well-poised to take the customer to the next level of trucking, according to Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland.
Advantage modularity
Employing a nodo bracket for integration of mountings such as the steering gearbox, cab, two hook, front spring eye, foot step support, radiator stay rod and cab tilt cylinder among others, the AVTR CVs offer a loading span flexibility for every two feet and with thickness options ranging from six-mm to eight-mm (with common hole pattern). Possessing a common engine (250 hp with H6/N4/N6 variations) and flywheel interface, they come with a differentiated speed gearbox (with six-, eight-, and nine-speed ratios as well as an AMT). Fitted with a bigger radiator for higher ground clearance and superior cooling system performance, the AVTR CVs have a common radiator mounting location with varying fan shroud and a front mounted air intake system at a common position, making it easy to achieve left or right driving orientation. The steering gearbox design is also oriented such. With an Ad-Blue to fuel filling ratio of 1:2, the new modular BSVI CVs from Ashok Leyland possess a higher (60-litres) Ad-Blue tank capacity.
Employing a non-corrosive plastic fuel tank (the buyer could choose either a 220-litre tank, a 300-litre tank or a 375-litre tank depending on his need), the AVTR CVs could be had with two fuel tanks of 375-litre capacity each as well. Witnessing well-defined efforts to reduce weight and improve performance as well as efficiency, the new modular BSVI CVs feature parabolic suspension and semi-elliptic leaf springs. A part of the suspension setup are heavy duty spring brackets, which offer 25 per cent higher loading. With a front axle ranging from seven-tonne to 10-tonne capacity, and of the zero drop axle variety, the vehicles also feature disc brakes for superior braking performance. If the mining trucks have a higher ground clearance compared to the haulage trucks, for superior stability and lower centre of gravity, the NGC cab of the AVTR CVs is designed to ensure better visibility. While a (G45 D/S) cowl chassis is also available, the new modular BSVI CVs could be had with either of the cab types — NGC D/I/S, G91 D/S and G45 D/S.
Differentiated solutions
Giving the buyer the choice of two stage suspension- NRS suspension, slipper end suspension and Bogie suspension, the vehicles are had in varied axle configurations such as 6×2, 6×4, 8×2, 8×4, 10×2, 10×4 across rigid, tipper and tractor applications. The new modular BSVI CVs come with a FSD load body, HSD load body, box body, and a rock body. Building on its traditional product stance, the AVTR CVs are about future product development through data mining and the reinforcing of its CV maker’s digital initiatives like iAlert, Leykart, etc., that extend beyond the realm of manufacturing and selling the CV in terms of value. Pointing at the indulgence of CV buyers in customisation post the purchase of a CV to make it even more suitable for the purpose of its application, Kathuria mentioned, “The modularity built into the AVTR platform takes such trends and requirements into consideration.” Aiming at providing the customer with a CV that he could configure and such that he does not have to indulge in aftermarket customisation, Ashok Leyland, with the AVTR CVs, it is clear, is looking at differentiated solutions.
With the ‘i-Gen6’ emission technology also termed as Mid-Nox tech, the new modular BSVI CVs are leveraging technologies like telematics to help not only its maker with remote monitoring (and diagnostics, preventive maintenance, etc.), but its operator with a rare ability to communicate with his or her machine in the interest of safety, security, reliability and better revenue earning potential. Providing training to the stakeholders (drivers and mechanics especially) to get the most out of the AVTR CVs, Ashok Leyland is, parallely, increasing its market reach by expanding its network. Aiming at one touch point every 50 km from the current count of 3000 touch points, the company is keen to gather a pie of the entire lifecycle costs of the vehicle rather than be just content with making money by manufacturing and selling it. It has gathered that there is more money to be made in the life of the vehicle after selling it rather than just manufacturing and selling it. Seeding some AVTR vehicles with select customers for real-world feedback, the company, through the new modular BSVI CVs is keen to create a new identity for itself. An identity that it would want to take to its lighter range of products as well.
