The present and future of electric axles
Axle manufacturers have been working on eAxle solutions for years, but in the time since these products came about, engineering innovation has only increased. So FE decided to check in with the makers of electric axles to see where these axles are now, and where they are going.
Focus on steer axles: The importance of application and how they work with brakes and tires
“Location, location, location” is a well-known real estate industry mantra; in the fleet world, we can change that to “application, application, application.” There’s no part or component on the truck that isn’t affected by the application the truck runs in, and this should be the first thing on any fleet manager’s mind when spec’ing a
Western Star adds new drive axle option for snow plows on 4700
The Western Star 4700 set-back (SB) all-wheel drive (AWD) 6×6 and 4×4 trucks can now be spec’d with an 18,000-lb. front drive axle, the company announced. The company says that this option is ideal for snow plow applications, provides enhanced maneuverability required for harsh winter conditions. The heavy-duty front drive axle from Meritor also contributes to
Watch: Let’s talk electric trucks and electric axles
While electric trucks, in both hybrid and pure electric forms, are being built now, the biggest focus for electrification is on the future, and that applies just as much to the axles that power these trucks. After all, in an electrified powertrain, with no engine present, it’s the axle that controls the power that moves
How wide base tires can impact axle maintenance
Chances are, you don’t think too much about axles unless there is a particular problem. Wheels and tires are another matter altogether. For one thing, wheels and tires are visible to everyone who sees the vehicle. They are attention-getters even from people not involved in the industry. Plus, nice wheels make the truck look good,
AxleTech, Thor Trucks to develop heavy-duty e-Powertrain system
Specialty powertrain solutions providerAxleTech has announced that it is developing a heavy-duty e-powertrain system with Thor Trucks, a fleet-focused transportation lab building fully electric commercial trucks. AxleTech and Thor Trucks will integrate AxleTech’s e-axle technology with Thor’s proprietary battery technology to create a fully electric commercial vehicle powertrain. “Electric powertrains for on-highway use are rapidly
Meritor announces front drive steer and tridem rear-drive axle for severe duty applications
Meritor has announced the new MX-610 front-drive and MZ-610 tridem rear axle for multiple severe-duty applications. “The front-drive steer axle and tridem are the next-generation axle combinations from our award-winning 610/P600 series and two of many new products Meritor is bringing to market as part of the company’s M2019 growth initiative,” said Tony Nicol, Meritor’s vice president
Meritor expands North America authorized rebuilder program for axle carriers in the United States
Meritor Inc. has announced the U.S. launch of its North America Authorized Rebuilder Program for drive axle carriers, including the company’s 145, 14X and 160 products. Five rebuilders in the United States, along with four already serving the Canadian market, brings the total number of North America locations to 62 that supply wholesale distributors and
Meritor P600 planetary axles offer new features for off-highway applications
Meritor has announced that its P600 planetary axles are available with optional 5-planet wheel-ends and can now be configured for use with central tire inflation systems (CTIS). The optional 5-planet wheel-ends allow a 20% higher gross combined axle weight rating (GCWR) over the 4-planet version and feature integrated cooling technology to reduce axle operating
Watch: Let’s talk tire choices for 6×2 axle configurations
Let’s talk tire choices for 6×2 axle configurations. As you may recall, 6×2 axle configurations were seen as the next big thing in the trucking industry a few years back. And while the market for 6×2 configurations has not been quite what many envisioned, there is still a decent amount of interest from some fleets
