ZF continues to lead efforts to develop innovative technologies to make commercial vehicles more sustainable. As the industry continues to undergo its greatest transformation since the invention of the internal combustion engine, ZF aims to continue to set the direction for innovation by actively responding to customer needs with its fully flexible portfolio. The company will be showcasing this approach at the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover, Germany, from September 17-22 this year.
As the world’s largest component and systems supplier with the broadest portfolio in the commercial vehicle industry, ZF is well positioned to provide the technical expertise, manufacturing flexibility and cross-divisional technology transfer needed to deliver cost-effective solutions. ZF predicts that customer demand for e-mobility will increase over the next few years.
Hybrid technologies
ZF is investing in hybrid powertrain technologies as a quick fix to reduce commercial vehicle emissions. The TraXon 2 Hybrid concept, the latest variant of ZF’s successful TraXon 2 transmission, offers OEMs the opportunity to integrate hybrid technology into existing design platforms with less effort and complexity. Facilitating clean, safe and efficient mobility, the system also brings total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits.
Hybrid technologies offer the potential for significant emissions reductions while maintaining their advantages such as range and refueling capacity. Thanks to its extensive experience in the development of hybrid technologies for passenger cars, ZF uses its technical know-how and industrial capabilities to offer practical and cost-effective hybrid solutions.
Zero Emission Technologies: ZF's E-Mobility Kit
ZF’s next-generation electric powertrain family offers manufacturers all the components they need to electrify their vehicles. ZF’s E-Mobility Kit features an innovative modular approach that seamlessly integrates components to create a compact, lightweight and powerful system. ZF’s in-house development of key components such as inverters, e-motors, transmissions, e-actuators and electronic control units including software enables OEM customers to tailor electric drive solutions to their specific needs across a range of vehicle applications.
ZF’s kit meets a wide range of customer requirements and includes the CeTrax 2 Dual and CeTrax 2 central drive platforms, which can be positioned in the same space as a conventional transmission, as well as the AxTrax 2 Dual and AxTrax 2 axle drive platforms, which provide design flexibility by being positioned closer to the wheels.
OEMs have the flexibility to use the full range of electric drive systems offered by ZF or to integrate individual components, software or subsystems. This flexible approach facilitates a smooth transition to e-mobility with electric drive solutions that can be easily integrated into existing vehicle platforms or provide additional design flexibility to meet a variety of applications.
Electric Trailer Concept
Whether pulled by an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric truck, the role of trailers in decarbonizing road freight transport is becoming increasingly important. With ZF’s in-house developed AxTrax 2 e-Axle, an electric trailer concept that integrates trailer EBS and battery system effectively turns trucks with internal combustion engines into hybrid vehicles. In the case of electric vehicles, this concept significantly increases the vehicle’s range.
When the trailer is towed by an internal combustion engine (ICE), this technology reduces CO2 emissions by up to 16% through recovery, while with a plug-in hybrid solution this can be increased to 40%. This concept is made possible by the development of ZF’s latest electric axle, the AxTrax 2, which was originally designed for trucks, buses and coaches. The integration of e-mobility technologies such as the AxTrax 2 with ZF’s leading expertise in brake control systems demonstrates how ZF applies its technical transfer capabilities to effectively meet a wide range of applications.
eWorX
ZF is also making a name for itself in the field of electric power take-offs (ePTOs). ZF’s eWorX integrates components such as a 50 kW e-motor, inverter and electronic control unit with application-specific software. eWorX powers a range of equipment including hook lifts, double-arm lifts or loading cranes mounted on electric commercial vehicles. The demand for eWorX products is expected to double in the next few years, which is proof of the success of this concept, developed in close cooperation with OEMs and body builders.
ZF’s latest version of eWorX integrates into the truck chassis and utilizes the vehicle’s cooling system. This innovative design reduces installation space and enables the system to be used in a wider range of vehicle applications. ZF will also soon introduce the next generation of the ZF eWorX family, which includes a 70 kW, 800 V, cybersecurity-equipped drive system for electric powertrain solutions and a multifunctional, bi-directional I/O device for applications in electric commercial vehicles.
