German based global vehicle component maker, ZF, which claims to be the world’s largest component and system supplier says it is well positioned to provide the technical expertise, manufacturing flexibility and cross-divisional technology transfer needed to provide cost- effective solutions as customer demand for e-mobility to grows over the next few years.
The company based in the German city of Friedrichshafen will showcase its technologies to make commercial vehicles more sustainable at next week’s IAA Transportation in Hanover, at a time when the industry is undergoing the greatest transformation since the invention of the internal combustion engine,
The company which also claims to have the broadest portfolio in the commercial vehicle industry, says it is investing in hybrid drivetrain technologies as a rapid solution to reduce commercial vehicle emissions.
ZF says the latest variant of its TraXon 2 transmission, the TraXon 2 Hybrid, is a new concept that effectively enables OEMs to incorporate hybrid technology into their
existing design platforms with reduced effort and complexity.
The company says that the system facilitates clean, safe and efficient mobility, while bringing total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits.
The company claims that the hybrid technologies offer significant emissions reduction potential while retaining many of the advantages in terms of range and refilling capabilities.
It said that with its extensive experience in developing hybrid technologies for passenger cars, it is able to leverage its technical and industrial capabilities to develop viable, cost-effective hybrid solutions.
As well as its hybrid developments, ZF says its family of next generation electric drives provides the elements manufacturers need to electrify vehicles. This was witnessed in the deal announced last year by Isuzu to use a ZF driveline for its first pure battery electric truck which T&B News understands is already undergoing testing in Australia ahead of a launch sometime in 2025.
ZF says its E-Mobility Kit employs a modular approach, seamlessly integrating components to create a compact, lightweight and powerful system and its in-house
development of key components, including inverters, e- motors, transmissions, e-actuators, and electronic control units including software, has allowed it to tailor e-drive solutions to the specifications of OEM customers across various vehicle applications.
ZF added that its kit includes a central drive platform catering to a wide range of customer requirements, with the CeTrax 2 dual and CeTrax 2, which it says can slot into the same space as a conventional transmission, along with its axle drive platform, the AxTrax 2 dual and AxTrax 2, which sits closer to the wheels, that ZF says provides greater design flexibility.
The company says that OEMs, like Isuzu have the flexibility to use complete e-drive systems from ZF or integrate individual components, software, or subsystems.
ZF added that this versatility facilitates a smooth transition to electric mobility, offering electric drive solutions that can either be easily integrated into existing vehicle platforms or provide additional design flexibility to meet various applications.
Another new technology that ZF is showcasing at Hanover is Electrified Trailers
The company says that the trailer will play an increasingly significant role in helping to decarbonise road freight transport, whether hauled by an ICE or electric truck.
ZF says its electric trailer concept, which integrates its AxTrax 2 e-Axle together with its trailer EBS and battery system box into a semi-trailer, effectively converts an ICE powered truck into a hybrid. In the case of an electric vehicle, it says the electric trailer concept effectively extends the vehicle’s range.
The company said that when hauled by an ICE truck, the technology can help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 16 per cent through recuperation, while up to 40 per cent with the plug-in- hybrid solution.
It said that this concept is possible thanks to the development of its latest electrified AxTrax 2 traction axle, which was originally designed for trucks, buses and coaches. It Integrates its e-mobility technologies such as the AxTrax 2 with its expertise in braking control systems and it says it demonstrates how it applies its technical-transfer capabilities to meet a wide range of applications effectively.
ZF also claims it excels in the domain of electrified power-take off solutions (ePTO). It says its eWorX integrates components including a 50-kW e-motor, inverter and
electronic control unit with application-specific software.
It added that the eWorX powers a range of equipment including hook lifters, skip loaders or loading cranes installed on electric commercial vehicles. The company says it it was developed in close collaboration with OEMs and body manufacturers, and that the concept is proving highly successful with demand for eWorX products expected to double over the next few years.
ZF says its latest version of eWorX is integrated into the frame of the truck and uses the truck’s cooling system.
It adds that the innovative design reduces installation space and allows the system to be used in a wider range of vehicle applications. As well as that it says it will soon introduce a next generation to its eWorX family with a 70 kW, 800 V, cyber security capable drive for electric power take-off solutions as well as a multifunctional, bidirectional I/O device to power applications on electrified commercial vehicles.
