EDI Launches Electric Drivetrain

Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), Milpitas, Calif., a manufacturer of hybrid and electric drivetrain solutions, announced its EDI PowerDrive 7000 electric drivetrain. The PowerDrive EV series will be offered as an electrification kit and developer support program for school bus manufacturers looking to offer e-Buses as part of their solution portfolio.

EDI said interest in the PowerDrive 7000 is driven at least in part by available  government subsidy and incentive programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with school districts benefitting from low cost of ownership and sustainable transport for students.

The EDI PowerDrive™ kit offers OEMs a framework for EV vehicle solution development. Electrification kits include a high-efficiency drivetrain (EDI PowerDrive), vehicle control and telematics software (EDI PowerSuite), and the training and support infrastructure to enable quicker time to market in offering EV vehicles. OEMs can also further customize vehicle solutions with EDI’s Electric Power Export (EDI Power2E) option—the capability to export a range of power directly from the vehicle for use in disaster recovery, tool operation, and vehicle-to-gird (V2G) applications.

The company will be offering the EDI PowerDrive technology in both PHEV and EV platforms as an electrification kit for OEMs, including control software and optional telematics for vehicle analytics and real-time fleet monitoring.

With the launch, EDI has formally announced its expansion into the school bus industry, with the EDI PowerDrive 7000 EV drivetrain and EDI PowerSuite vehicle control software.

The company has collaborated with several OEMs to electrify buses. In the US, the EDI PowerDrive 7000 has been integrated into two models of Bluebird buses, the All American RE Type D and Vision Type C, as well as Thomas Bus Safe-T-Liner Type C (see accompanying articles on this site).

EDI has a history in electrification of buses-integrating its EDI PowerDrive technology into several models of 8, 10.5, and 12 meter buses for OEMs such as Ankai, Shaanxi, Xiamen Jinlong, and Yaxing Motor Coach.

EDI said the PowerDrive has surpassed over 2.5 million miles in a commercial fleet setting of city buses deployed in rural and city routes.