ZF
Mobility From a Single Source
Mobility moves us all. As traffic grows, congestion increases. The logical consequence is switching to public transport. In the city, intercity, everywhere. Since the foundation of our company, we have been pursuing the claim to meet the demands of drivers, operators and passengers, while cutting costs, fuel consumption and emissions – effectively and systematically with our expertise.
Our principle here: as far as possible, everything from one source, with all components meshing perfectly. Switching to buses for transport must be a noticeably better alternative to private transport, gridlocks and environmental pollution.
Clearing the Way for Mobile Megatrends
Current megatrends in mobility include maximum efficiency, the highest safety levels, autonomous driving and locally emission-free e-mobility. ZF delivers technological solutions to transform these trends into advances in mobility.
So, what trends determine the future of today’s driveline technology?
Two topics continue to dominate the discussion. The first is the constant search for more efficient drive systems that help save energy and therefore fuel. Second, it’s vital to improve safety for passengers, highway users and the vehicle itself.
A third point has consistently drawn attention in recent years and decades: cities are gasping for clean air! Driveline technology has a continuing duty to reduce vehicle emissions. Another future trend is helping us to meet this challenge: assisted and autonomous driving. More than just a promise of comfort and convenience, autonomous driving improves both safety and efficiency.
Responding to these current issues, ZF offers diverse concepts and concrete technical solutions to convert these trends into real-life progress. Our engineers’ primary goal for the future is Vision Zero; zero emissions, zero accidents!
On the path to zero emissions, ZF already achieves efficiency increases using our expertise in intelligent lightweight construction, smart electronic functions as well as electrification on all vehicle levels. For locally emission-free transport vehicles, for example city buses, all-electric drives are the only option. ZF supplies these drives as highly efficient system solutions, among them electric motors and power electronics complete with electronic control units.
ZF has focused on hybridization in order to make buses with combustion engines considerably more efficient and economical. This solution is promising above all for long-distance coaches that have to accomplish the last mile within cities.
Preventing road accidents or at least reducing their severity is another core goal of Vision Zero. ZF offers the most extensive safety technology portfolio in the supplier industry. ZF-developed key technologies range from axle and transmission systems through sensors and right up to active steering systems and electronics.
The company is developing intelligent assist systems that enable vehicles to detect risks sooner. Highly advanced ZF control units convert the volumes of data supplied by vehicle sensors and infrastructure systems into command actions for intelligent mechanical systems, such as drive systems, steering systems and brakes.
SEE – THINK – ACT: ZF allows vehicles to see, think and act. Thanks to its great expertise, ZF combines environmental sensors, such as camera and radar (“see”) with central electronic control units in the vehicle (“think”). Intelligent mechatronics in the drive, chassis and steering system then convert the insights gained into actions (“act”).
The SEE – THINK – ACT triad is the leading principle for the company itself and also a unique selling proposition for its technological innovations. ZF applies its wide-ranging know-how to create individual solutions as well as comprehensive and intelligent systems for the megatrends mobility, safety, efficiency and autonomous driving.
Systems Expertise in City Buses
We want to make public transport a real alternative to private car use. That’s why our driveline and chassis specialists are working on groundbreaking solutions that will benefit municipalities as well as public and private transport companies, and of course also passengers. Our objectives are clear: higher comfort, greater efficiency and greener transport.
Maximum reliability and efficiency result when all components mesh perfectly. That’s exactly what our system-centered approach is about. You can see this in our perfectly fine-tuned combination of the AVE 130 electric portal axle with inverter and control electronics. Or the balanced interplay of our EcoLife automatic transmission with the AV 133 portal axle. This combination adds up to minimal fuel consumption, long service life and low noise level. Other major components are control arms, tie rods and suspension joints with precisely defined rigidity for excellent wheel guidance, plus dampers that support safety functions such as lane assist, braking and acceleration and that reduce vibration loads. Ideal for both vehicle manufacturers and passengers.
Extra benefits: Comfortable drivability and smooth transmission of the braking torque from the transmission retarder to the wheel brakes. Our driveline consultancy service helps you choose from a vast range of components the right ones for your needs as well as the optimal drive axle ratio.
ZF city bus service options also cover everything from installation inspection to custom service packages and global service.
