The ZF Health Check service is expected to make ZF Aftermarket accessible to users of its automatic transmission for buses. Based on live read data from the driving operations, an individualised maintenance plan can be created that is tailored to the actual condition of the transmission. Fault diagnostics are possible via digital remote access, so that unnecessary workshop visits can be avoided and operating times increased.
The ZF Health Check is adapted to the ZF EcoLife automatic transmission, which is used by transport operators worldwide in city buses and regular-service buses. The solution uses numerous types of sensor data registered in the transmission system during vehicle operations – for example, engine speed, gear step, oil temperature and oil pressure. The data is transferred over-the-air to a dedicated advanced analytics service operating in the ZF Cloud, where individualised service-relevant insights are determined. In turn, those insights result in recommendations for action for the bus operator, or for their service company.
For example, the operator can make the best possible use of the service life of transmission oil, because the oil is not changed at a predefined mileage which could be too early. The bus, therefore, stays on the road longer, and availability (uptime) increases. Even if the bus has to go to the workshop, downtime is minimised because spare parts or materials can be provided in advance thanks to the available vehicle data. The necessary working time can also be better planned. If the company's own workshop cannot find the fault, the fleet operator can call in external service experts and give them access to the Health Check portal.
According to ZF, bus fleet operators receive early warnings of impending breakdowns. This is because damage does not usually occur suddenly, but rather can be anticipated – for example, by deviations in oil pressure or temperature. If the operator then takes the vehicle in question to the workshop, the repair is often less expensive because no consequential damage has yet occurred and the problems associated with a breakdown are also eliminated –such as further transport of the passengers, use of a replacement bus, or taking the broken-down vehicle to the workshop.
Philippe Colpron, head of ZF Aftermarket, said: “With ZF EcoLife we already enable hundreds of bus operators around the globe to perform more efficiently. With our ZF Health Check offering, leveraging remote vehicle data access and predictive analytics, we can now accompany our fleet customers even one step further towards zero downtime and paving the way for a sustainable aftermarket.”
ZF Health Check is available to users of the ZF Bus Connect Premium fleet telematics solution. ZF is currently planning the integration of additional components into Health Check. In addition to Health Check, ZF Bus Connect offers a range of functions for operational optimisation of bus fleets such as a live view of the entire vehicle fleet, insight into optimisation potential with regard to fuel/energy consumption and driver behaviour.