Where should the motors go on electric truck axles?

Where should the motors go on electric truck axles?

dana-eaxle

There are three options currently being used for motor placement in an electric powertrain: centralized direct drive solutions, centralized motor with a gearbox or deep reduction axle gearing, or an e-axle in which the motor is placed directly onto the axle itself.

According to Steve Slesinski, director of global product planning for Dana, the latter option is the most advantageous long-term. “By integrating the power source into the axle you have a far shorter path to deliver torque to the wheels which eliminates parasitic losses and provides improved responsiveness,” he explained. “This also eliminates the entire powertrain in front of the rear axle which provides package space and weight reduction for high voltage battery storage. The fewest connections and shortest length of cables will provide a more efficient solution. e-Axle solutions require additional chassis architectural changes to the vehicle to handle the redistribution of weight and driving performance; however, Dana feels this will be the future of electrified vehicles.”

“With the present technology that is on the market today, the most effective place to put the motor is directly in the axle,” agreed Thomas Healy, chief executive officer of Hyliion, makers of a hybrid electric system called the 6X4HE. “And for the highest efficiency, the motor will spin in parallel with the wheels as opposed to perpendicular. This configuration eliminates much of the gearing that produces drag and efficiency losses on the vehicle.”

When developing their electric FL and FE trucks for Europe, Volvo went with an electrical motor and a two-speed transmission with a prop shaft driving the rear axle. The electric motor on the FE is rated for 627 lbs./ft. of torque, and the rear axle gets 20,652 lbs./ft. of torque. The FL’s electric motor, meanwhile, is rated for 313 lbs./ft. of torque, and its rear axle gets 11,801 lbs./ft. of torque.

You May Also Like

The 7 EV battery lessons we learned at ACT Expo

Battery experts weigh in on long-life vs. high-density, the residual value of older EVs, ethically sourcing EV battery materials and more.

ACT-Battery-Panel-1400

For some fleets, adopting their first electric trucks might feel like taking a leap of faith simply because there are so many unknowns – many of which revolve around the true viability of the electric powertrain. What will the next generation of battery chemistries bring to trucking? Will the new electric truck you buy today hold its value better than a new diesel truck would five or 10 years down the road? How can we give higher consideration to ethics issues on the path to more sustainable operations?

Freightliner M2, SD Plus Series launch updates its medium-duty truck offering

Freightliner introduced the new Plus Series–enhanced versions of its M2 and SD models, including the M2 106 Plus, M2 112 Plus, 108SD Plus, and 114SD Plus. The enhanced models provide a major update to the interior and electrical systems of the M2 and SD models. The OEM noted that the Plus Series is designed to

Freightliner-MD-SD-Plus-Series-1400
Truck cruise control technology that looks at the road ahead

If you’ve ever visited the Northeast region of the country, you’ve most likely encountered intimidating terrain. The winding roads. The steep hills. The intricate routes that challenge any seasoned driver, and, most recently, advanced cruise control systems that aim to improve fuel efficiency and driver comfort.   Related Articles – Four ways A.I. can help cut

Four ways A.I. can help cut diesel fuel costs

The fluctuation of fuel prices has made it more challenging to operate day-to-day. Drivers get paid by the mile, and, when fuel costs go up, margins shrink, impacting how fleets profit and pay their employees. Intelligent technology can lessen the impact of high prices by improving overall fuel efficiency. Related Articles – New ways to

AI-trucking-generic-1400
Peterbilt GM Jason Skoog charts today’s truck support, tomorrow’s truck solutions

Peterbilt made headlines recently when it became the first major North American OEM to open orders for an electric truck, the Peterbilt 220EV. In this exclusive interview, Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR Vice President Jason Skoog details the technology investments that are keeping fleets productive during this year’s trying pandemic and laying the groundwork for

Peterbilt General Manager PACCAR Technology Electric Truck

Other Posts

Thermo King’s electric transport refrigeration unit for trailers completes trial with Meijer

To date, Thermo King’s single-temperature electric trailer has logged nearly 4,000 hours of customer trials.

Hyzon Motors publishes white paper showcasing fuel cell system technology

According to Hyzon, its single stack shows significant benefits compared to the traditional approach of combining two 100kW fuel cell systems.

hyzon-motors-white-paper-
Autocar, Heil display integrated refuse EV at Waste Expo

E-ACX’s dual electric drive is said to deliver torque that can compare to any current ICE in the refuse space.

AutoCar Heil refuse EV
Daimler Truck CEO on decarbonization developments, infrastructure investment and the reason for Rizon

With sustainable trucking options on the road, more challenges are ahead … as well as opportunity.