ZF Next generation mobility
ZF Next generation mobility strategy meets the needs of the potential customers, as the Company explained during an event at its testing facility in Jeversen, Germany
ZF Next generation mobility isn’t just a slogan, it’s a real electric strategy concerning new Commercial Vehicles Solution division.
What happens in Friedrichshafen. ZF Next generation mobility strategy
According to Wolf-Henning Scheider, CEO of ZF, “ZF’s new all-electric steering system is at the cutting-edge of by-wire technology and our comprehensive portfolio uniquely and powerfully positions the Group to achieve fully automated by-wire vehicle control in a highly competitive environment.”
Scheider adder: “Our divisions work together in close partnership optimizing the benefits of mutual technology transfer. ZF’s new steer-by-wire technology is an important precondition for advanced automation in passenger cars and, true to our ‘develop once, deploy anywhere’ guiding philosophy, will also be applied to commercial vehicle automation.”
Steer-by-wire technology transmits driver commands to the steering system entirely through electrical signals, removing the mechanical link between the steering wheel and front axle. Going forward, by-wire technology is expected to play an increasingly pivotal role in all aspects of vehicle motion control – longitudinally, transversely and vertically. Future-proofing the technology, the new generation software supporting the by-wire actuators can be updated over-the-air at any time. ZF has already secured several major customer orders for its new steer-by-wire system.
e-Mobility for commercial vehicles
“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.
Performing its world premiere, CeTrax 2 is ZF’s integrated, modular electric driveline for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The new system combines a favorable power-to-weight ratio and a highly integrated, compact design. This enables a high, sustained output of 360 kW and improved efficiency through powershift gear changes. It also features high-end technologies including a hairpin design for the stator, an innovative cooling system and a silicon carbide-based inverter, adapted from ZF’s passenger car expertise. Series production with a global vehicle manufacturer will start next year. Seamlessly combining smart technologies and control systems for both truck and trailer, ZF is uniquely well placed to take a holistic approach to sustainability. Equipping innovation trucks and semi-trailers with a suite of its latest safety and efficiency technologies, ZF is also demonstrating how its complete vehicle approach represents a significant step towards the industry aim of ‘zero accidents’ and next level efficiency.
Orchestration Platform for Fleet Operators
Demonstrating the success of its software development, ZF is presenting the world premiere of SCALAR, a new digital solutions platform for commercial vehicle fleets that enables efficient Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS). It is a fully automated, AI-based planning, routing and dispatching solution. ZF SCALAR combines and connects technologies on board commercial vehicles and third-party systems with artificial intelligence. The platform will help fleet operators increase operational efficiency, sustainability, planning reliability, and cargo and passenger safety. ZF anticipates that SCALAR will become an indispensable partner for the freight and passenger transportation industry.
