Meritor announced a strategic investment in TransPower, an electrification technology for large commercial vehicles, to help speed the development of its electric vehicle platforms.

California-based TransPower supplies various electric vehicle components to major manufacturers of trucks, buses, refuse vehicles and terminal tractors. The company has been focused exclusively on developing electrical drive solutions for more than seven years. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Meritor expects to accelerate introduction of its flexible electric axle platform with this investment.

"TransPower's extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with electrical vehicle technologies and system integration gives us a significant competitive advantage in developing electrical drive systems for this evolving market," said Jay Craig, CEO and president for Meritor. "This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver high-efficiency solutions for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles supported by proven solutions."

Meritor’s flexible electric axle platform is being designed for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, and single or tandem axles. It's going to be targeted to medium-duty urban applications, as well as off-road and severe duty applications.

TransPower CEO Michael Simon said the company’s electric drive solutions have been used in commercial vehicles built by major manufacturers in daily use, logging around 110,000 miles so far. The company’s systems can also be retrofitted into existing vehicle platforms.  

"Meritor's investment in TransPower could enable large-scale manufacturing of electric drive components and systems," Simon said. "Our expertise in systems engineering and controls for EVs complements Meritor's strong brand and century of experience in designing and manufacturing drivetrain products for the commercial vehicle industry."