ZF previews e-mobility, technology for commercial fleets

ZF ADOPT software platform for advanced chassis control of automated commercial vehicles. (Photo: ZF)

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division has previewed a selection of its latest developments and technology at the company’s testing facility in Jeversen, Germany, in advance of the IAA Transportation trade show in Hannover. The new launches are intended to further safety, efficiency and sustainability standards for truck-trailer combinations globally. ZF is also leveraging its ability to transfer technologies and competencies across vehicle segments in areas such as automation and electric drivetrains, it reported.

“The trend towards automated, connected and electrified vehicles represents a huge commitment in development costs for OEMs. With our wide range of integrated solutions, ZF offers customers the opportunity to be at the forefront of technology, while reducing their development efforts,” said ZF Board Member Wilhelm Rehm, responsible for Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Industrial Technology and Materials Management.

ZF CeTrax 2 next-generation eMobility solution for commercial vehicles. (Photo: ZF)

In addition to demonstrating its first passenger car steer-by-wire system for passenger vehicles, the company premiered the CeTrax 2 integrated, modular electric driveline for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The system combines a favorable power-to-weight ratio with a highly integrated compact design that enables a sustained output of 360 kW and improved efficiency through powershift gear changes, ZF said. It also features a hairpin design for the stator, an advanced cooling system and a silicon carbide-based inverter adapted from ZF’s passenger car experience. Series production with a global vehicle manufacturer will start next year.

ZF also presented its SCALAR digital solutions platform for commercial vehicle fleets to enable Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS). The fully automated planning, routing and dispatching solution combines and connects technologies on board commercial vehicles and third-party systems via artificial intelligence. It is designed to help fleet operators increase operational efficiency, sustainability, planning reliability and cargo and passenger safety in the freight and passenger transportation industry.

ZF SCALAR fully automated and AI-based orchestration platform for fleet operators. (Photo: ZF)

On the integrated automation solutions side, ZF plans to unveil how it is leveraging its Orchestration solution and its next-generation ADOPT 2.0 (Autonomous Driving Open Platform Technology) automated chassis control solution to provide end-to-end yard automation applications up to 20 kph. The company will also showcase ADOPT 3.0, which will enable hub-to-hub highway applications at speeds up to 80 kph.

“ZF’s latest annual global technology showcase once again demonstrates how well positioned ZF is to meet challenges and maximize opportunities for the future. By increasing diversification, entering new markets, achieving greater technology penetration and pursuing our proven sustainability strategy, significant progress has been achieved by ZF at the very forefront of e-mobility, automation and connected, software-defined vehicles,” said Wolf-Henning Scheider, ZF CEO.