ZF
Efficient and Climate-Friendly
Fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction are hot topics for industry and governments. It’s all about reducing fleet consumption of fossil fuels as well as cutting CO2 and NOx emissions in city centers and high-density zones. To achieve this, we need locally emission-free drives that use regenerative energy sources.
ZF, with its decades of experience in modern vehicle drives, also develops electric and hybrid system solutions for commercial vehicles.
They enable efficient, emission-free operation of buses, trucks and light commercial vehicles. Because battery packs make vehicles heavier, weight has to be saved elsewhere. With our expertise in lightweight construction, electronics and system integration as well as energy management, ZF is a strong partner for vehicle manufacturers.
Emission-Free Electromobility from ZF
Electric battery or hybrid technology – ZF has been supplying both drive types for passenger cars for years. Electric drives have also been available for commercial vehicles for many years, and now hybrid solutions will follow. These two variants benefit from each other, and customers benefit even more. That’s because the goal is electric drives and hybrid transmissions for everyday use.
As a leading technology company offering comprehensive system solutions, ZF’s clear objective is making intelligent mobility possible. Quality, technology leadership and innovative strength have shaped ZF’s identity for more than 100 years. As we look to the future in our Corporate Strategy 2025, we have defined our motivation and obligation to shape mobility safely, efficiently and sustainably with trendsetting technologies.
ZF’s concept is Vision Zero – a world without accidents and emissions. That means electric drives for all applications that also benefit economically from all-electric vehicles. Today, electric motors can already be used in long-distance traffic to supplement conventional drives in hybrid vehicles. ZF supplies the corresponding hybrid transmissions for this.
With its extensive portfolio, ZF covers all types of commercial vehicle – from small light commercial vehicles to heavy trucks and city buses. Axle-based electric solutions and central drives meet different customer needs.
While wheel-hub and electric axle drives offer installation space advantages, central drives are ideal for converting a conventional vehicle layout to electric drive at a minimum of cost and effort.
ZF can engineer entire drive systems. They come with all components optimally fine-tuned to each other in terms of performance, cost-effectiveness and service life. That means the vehicle manufacturer saves costs and effort. Our systems expertise covers converters and electronic control units just as much as the associated chassis technology, steering systems, axles, dampers and cooling systems. And of course we support you with the integration of our systems into your vehicles.
For a Better Climate
Today, there are extensive efforts under way to free urban centers from all types of emissions; whether noise, exhaust gas, or others. Legislators such as municipalities impose maximum permissible values to prevent damage to health and the environment. What’s more, operators like public utilities and forwarding companies also have an eye on costs.
Driveline technology in modern vehicles plays a leading role here. That’s why ZF is systematically expanding its portfolio – with a modular concept covering small to large applications for trucks and buses.
When it comes to buses, the focus is on local public transport which takes people to their destinations all over the city. In addition to conventional drives, locally emission-free electric drives have become established in recent years, and they continue to gain ground. They offer advantages not only in terms of emissions.
Operators also benefit. That’s because electric motors are easier to install in vehicles than conventional drives with internal combustion engines and transmissions. The result is space for more seats or standing room in buses, additional doors, plus step-free, low floors.
The vehicles can transport more passengers, who board and exit faster, for ultimately more effective bus routes. The energy storage units (e.g. batteries) need space, but they can easily be accommodated in the floor or roof areas.
Also in the truck sector there are lots of new develop- ments in drives. Emission-free driving is an important goal here as well. Increasingly, electric-drive specialists are looking at distribution vehicles for all-electric driving in cities. From lightweight to medium-weight vehicles.
For heavy truck and bus applications, electric motors supplement conventional drives in hybrid vehicles – particularly for the last mile in urban areas.
There are no traffic bans for these vehicles, and they can achieve significant fuel savings.
For all these use cases, ZF develops perfectly coordinated systems from a single source, created by experts with long-standing experience in electric drives. Vehicle manufacturers can rely on our company that has been developing, producing and selling highly successful drives for motor vehicles for more than 100 years.
