GILLIG to offer fuel-saving technology from Allison Transmission for its buses beginning in April

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GILLIG LLC, designer and manufacturer of buses, has announced it will offer FuelSense® 2.0 featuring DynActivetm Shifting beginning in April. The innovative new method of shift scheduling from Allison Transmission delivers up to 6 percent additional fuel savings beyond original FuelSense software.

"GILLIG is proud to be able to bring additional value to our customers by partnering with industry leaders like Allison and offering its FuelSense technology," said Chris Turner, vice president of manufacturing and supply chain for GILLIG. "Working with innovative companies like Allison allows GILLIG to continue to offer its customers a transit bus that has the lowest operational cost in North America."

FuelSense 2.0 technology features enhanced technology to provide an infinitely variable combination of shift points. The software upgrade will offer more precise balancing of fuel economy and performance by maximizing efficiency through a set of proprietary electronic controls.

"This latest technology further reduces fuel consumption in all segments of a vehicle's duty-cycle," said Otto Szalavari, managing director of global marketing for Allison. "FuelSense 2.0 offers increased specification flexibility and delivers the best economic value to our customers."

FuelSense 2.0 is ideally suited for GILLIG's transit customers with value provided in heavy stop-start duty cycles. With more than 3 million test miles in customer fleets representing a variety of duty-cycles, the fleets have experienced fuel economy gains up to 4 percent in transit buses and up to 6 percent in other vocations. This fuel economy improvement in transit buses resulted in an estimated annual per vehicle savings of up to $800 based on duty cycle, annual mileage and fuel price.

As a leading global fuel economy solution since 2014, FuelSense is available in three packages:

• FuelSense 2.0 ? Includes DynActive Shifting
• FuelSense 2.0 Plus ? Includes (1) DynActive Shifting and (2) Improved 'Neutral at Stop' with optional Coast Mode, a feature that reduces the load on the engine during low-speed coasting and when the vehicle is stopped for additional fuel savings. Choice of two levels:
  Standard ? Provides partial (first-level) 'Neutral at Stop'
  Premium ? Provides full 'Neutral at Stop' and a new, low-speed coasting capability
• FuelSense 2.0 Max ? Includes (1) DynActive Shifting, (2) 'Neutral at Stop' and (3) Enhanced 'Acceleration Rate Management,' a feature that mitigates aggressive driving by automatically controlling engine torque. It also now features a custom rate for more precise control.

GILLIG and Allison share a commitment to provide customers with the most advanced and innovative fuel savings products and features.

All of these features can be customized through Allison DOC® Fleets (FuelSense), available first quarter 2018. Currently, California, Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Jersey have adopted tailpipe emissions rules that forbid calibration changes in the aftermarket. Therefore, FuelSense 2.0 cannot be installed or changed in the aftermarket in these states. For more information about FuelSense 2.0 packages, visit allisontransmission.com/fuelsense.

About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and is a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and employs approximately 2,600 people worldwide. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India. Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.

About GILLIG LLC
GILLIG is the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States. From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is designed and built by dedicated Americans in Livermore, California. GILLIG buses are known for their unmatched quality, and have earned their reputation as the lowest-cost buses to maintain and operate. After 127 years, GILLIG holds strong to its family values and focus on its employees and customers. Our motivated and dedicated employees have a passion for quality and customer satisfaction. GILLIG is committed to building buses that connect communities, eliminate congestion and contribute to a greener environment. Further information about GILLIG can be found at www.gillig.com.

SOURCE Allison Transmission Holdings Inc.