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ZF eBeam Electric Axle
German gearbox and transaxle manufacturers ZF has developed an electronic axle said to be capable of converting any conventionally powered vehicle with a solid axle into a battery electric vehicle.
The ZF eBeam Axle features a centrally mounted electric motor, transmission and inverter, located where you would normally find the differential casing, essentially turning a solid axle into its own driveline.
Said to be intended for use on light to medium-duty utility vehicles, the axle would appear to offer manufacturers an off-the-shelf solution to electrifying their current range of pickups and trucks at a fraction of the cost typically needed to develop their own electric powertrain.
Scheduled to enter production in 2025, engines would likely be substituted for battery packs, as recently demonstrated on a production Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pick-up truck in the US. In that case, using the eBeam axle, the Silverado produced 300kW and 1,020Nm torque, although the company says outputs can be supplied between 180 and 350kW. Of course, range will be determined by application, says ZF.
Other points for consideration will likely centre around the addition of batteries, meaning tare weight will increase, meaning manufacturers would probably need to introduce suspension component upgrades to deal with the added load.
Looking forwards, it appears that eBeam could solve a problem facing many kiwis with any impending combustion engine bans, allowing utes to be retrofitted with, or delivered from new, with a viable electric-powered alternative.
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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