{"id":16075,"date":"2026-02-11T15:27:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T04:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/?page_id=16075"},"modified":"2026-04-05T17:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T07:28:39","slug":"gearboxes-zf-ecomat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/gearboxes-zf-ecomat\/","title":{"rendered":"Gearboxes – ZF Ecomat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The ZF Ecomat is a group of heavy duty hydro-planetary automatic transmissions built mainly for buses and trucks from 1980 to 2013. The ZF Ecomat was no longer available for purchase in new buses from 2013, and ceased being produced (whole new units as replacements) in 2025. There are scattered examples of new buses with Ecomats, such as N280UBs in 2016 and OH1830LEs in 2020, but these are believed to be old chassis built before 2013. The only known uses outside of buses are some Varley Commander pump\/fire trucks in NSW, Military Vehicles, Liebherr LTM 1060 Crane Trucks, and UK Class 172, \u010cD Class 842, CAF C4K in Ireland, and ABB IC3\/DSB Class MF trains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type Codes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

When written, the codes follow this format: 5HP-602C N (3.43)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 = Amount of gears<\/em>.<\/strong> 4, 5 or 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HP = Hydro-Planetary<\/em><\/strong> (Gearbox Type)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

60 = Model code.<\/em><\/strong> 50 (Standard, up to 1,100Nm), 55 (Volvo version), 59 (Special version, up to 1,250Nm), 60 (High torque version, up to 1,600Nm)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 = Ecomat Version.<\/strong><\/em> 0 = Ecomat 1st gen and Ecomat 1. 2= Ecomat 2. 4 = Ecomat 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C = CAN link (Controller Area Network, meaning the gear shifting can be influenced by data from the CAN)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N = NBS (“Neutralbeistanstillung” (German). Automatic neutral at Bus Stop. An additional plate at the front of the gearbox that allows the 1st gear to turn freely with the engine RPM when stopped or when certain criteria are met)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ZF Ecomat 1st Generation<\/strong> (1980-1985)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4HP-500 and 5HP-500<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: MAN SL200, Volvo B58, Volvo B10M Mk1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>2.82<\/td>1.84<\/td>1.36<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.80<\/td>4.84<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecomat 1<\/strong> (1985-2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard Version<\/strong> (i = 3.43 – 1.00\/0.83)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1100nm: 4HP-500, 5HP-500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Very widespread in buses, and in NSW Varley Commander Pump\/Fire Trucks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1250nm: 4HP-590, 5HP-590<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Some O405G<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1400nm: 4HP-600, 5HP-600<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: L113TRBL, STA L113CRL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>3.43<\/td>2.01<\/td>1.42<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.83<\/td>4.84<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short Version<\/strong> (i = 2.81 – 1.00\/0.8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 850nm: 4HP-500, 5HP-500<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: MAN midis, Volvo midis, some Volvo B10M Mk.2, some Van Hool<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>2.81<\/td>?<\/td>?<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.80<\/td>4.84?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Version<\/strong> (i = 5.6 – 1.00\/0.83)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5HP-500, 6HP-500, 5HP-590, 6HP-590, 5HP-600, 6HP-600<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: TPz Fuchs German Military Vehicle, C1 Ariete Italian Military Vehicle, Liebherr LTM 1060 Crane Truck, Volvo A25C Articulated Dump Truck<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>5.60<\/td>3.43<\/td>2.01<\/td>1.42<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.83<\/td>?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecomat II (1997-2008)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>3.43<\/td>2.01<\/td>1.42<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.83<\/td>0.59<\/td>4.84<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,100nm: 4HP-502, 5HP-502, 6HP-502<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Very widespread<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo Version: 5HP-552<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Euro 3 B7, Euro 3 & 4 B12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,250nm: 4HP-592, 5HP-592, 6HP-592<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: OH1830LE Euro 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,600nm: 4HP-602, 5HP-602, 6HP-602<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: L94UB 14.5m, L94UA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecomat II Long Version (i = 5.6 – 0.83\/0.59)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>7<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>5.6<\/td>3.43<\/td>2.01<\/td>1.42<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.83<\/td>0.59<\/td>4.84<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,750nm: 6HP-602, 7HP-602<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: CM-32 Yunpao <\/strong>(Wheeled armoured personnel carrier), Piranha III 8×8 <\/strong>(Wheeled armoured personnel carrier),Piranha IIIC <\/strong>(Command vehicle), VBCI <\/strong>(Wheeled armoured personnel carrier)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecomat IV (2006-2011*)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr>
Ratio<\/strong><\/td>3.43<\/td>2.01<\/td>1.42<\/td>1.00<\/td>0.83<\/td>0.59<\/td>4.84<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,100nm: 5HP-504, 6HP-50<\/strong>4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: MAN 16.240 Designline Bubble, Euro 5 Scania K230UB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo Version: 5HP-55<\/strong>4\/6HP-554<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Euro 5 B7RLE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,250nm: 5HP-594, 6HP-59<\/strong>4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Torque 1,750nm: 5HP-604, 6HP-604<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Very widespread<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ZF Ecomat is a group of heavy duty hydro-planetary automatic transmissions built mainly for buses and trucks from 1980 to 2013. The ZF Ecomat was no longer available for purchase in new buses from 2013, and ceased being produced (whole new units as replacements) in 2025. There are scattered examples of new buses with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-single-bus-pattern-template","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16075","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16075"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22634,"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16075\/revisions\/22634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/melbournebusfleet.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}