Dana launches e-axles for Class 7-8 vehicles

Dana has launched its new Spicer Electrified Zero-8 e-axles for Class 7 and 8 commercial vehicles. The axles are available in single (shown here) or tandem configurations.

Dana Inc. announced an expansion of its Spicer Electrified e-Powertrain offerings to include a family of single and tandem e-axles designed for a wide variety of Class 7 and 8 vehicle applications. The Spicer Electrified Zero-8 e-axles intended to complement the company’s established heavy-duty electric-vehicle (EV) e-propulsion systems, which are currently powering thousands of vehicles around the world.

The new products were unveiled at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, Calif.

Dana said the Zero-8 e-axles leverage its most robust and efficient drive axle technology and meet the diverse landscape of Class 7 and 8 EV architectures, including systems for direct drive and now 4x2, 6x2, and 6x4 multi-speed e-axle systems.

“Dana has leveraged its experience in global heavy-duty e-powertrain systems to introduce a complementing family of e-axles that offer maximum efficiency, performance and reliability,” said Ryan Laskey, senior vice president of Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems for Dana. “These new product platforms utilize our proven, vertically integrated motors and inverters and provide our customer with improved packaging and efficiency for their electric vehicle needs. Our technical team is committed to providing our customers with the best purpose-built, zero-emission solutions.”

Dana’s new Zero-8 tandem e-axle.

The new e-axles are engineered to easily integrate into most existing chassis. The platform utilizes Dana’s vertically integrated technologies, including Dana TM4 motors and inverters, Spicer high-efficiency axle gearing, Graziano synchronizers, transmission controllers, system software and shift system and controls.

The 4x2, 6x2, and 6x4 configurations are compatible with drum or disc brakes and are available as completely integrated fully dressed assemblies, the company said. The e-axles range from 52,000 Nm to 69,000 Nm of nominal output torque and support gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) from 21,000 to 30,000 lb. for single e-axle configurations, and 40,000 to 52,000 lb. for tandem e-axle propulsion.

Dana said the axles incorporate a modular motor design that provides easy accessibility for servicing and maintenance, and a motor interchange capability for increased ease of scalability in the Class 7 and 8 application range.

“These new e-Axles are predicated on our most sought-after, field-proven technologies,” Laskey said. “They are currently undergoing testing around the world in both battery-electric and fuel-cell applications and are ready for full-scale adoption as the commercial-vehicle segment continues to progress to fully electrified platforms.”

With global production strategies underway, Dana said it has commitments from global OEM customers with deliveries beginning in late 2023.

E-axle production for Freightliner Custom Chassis electric delivery vehicle

Dana also announced that it will begin production of its eS9000r e-axle – the first in a line of Spicer Electrified Zero-6 e-axles – to support the market launch of the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) all-electric MT50e medium-duty last-mile delivery vehicle.

Designed with a custom Spicer S130 rear drive axle, the propulsion system for the MT50e is engineered as a fully integrated e-axle, including a gearbox and motor, providing up to 240 kW of power to support the vehicle’s driving range of up to 170 miles.

“Delivery fleets are adopting electrified vehicles today, and Dana is supporting platforms such as the FCCC MT50e, with optimal e-Powertrain solutions,” Laskey said, “As more and more vehicle manufacturers rely on Dana innovations for their electrified vehicle architectures, we continue to evaluate each application to provide the ideal electrodynamic system for the given vehicle, duty cycle, and customer requirements.”