ZF has announced the North American debut of its Traxon 2 hybrid transmission. The OE also announced the global premiere of the e-comp Scroll, a next-generation air compressor purpose-built for electric and hybrid commercial vehicles.

Driving Cleaner Mobility

ZF said the Traxon 2 hybrid transmission was engineered with the future of commercial transportation in mind. In a press release, ZF said the Traxon 2 hybrid marks the next evolution of ZF’s modular automated manual transmission system (AMT). 

The hybrid transmission is optimized to help improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions across a wide range of commercial vehicle platforms, providing operators with sustainable performance and measurable cost benefits. 

Traxon 2 hybrid enables up to 14% CO2 emission reduction/fuel savings for short haul operations and up to 9% for long haul applications in hybrid electric vehicle applications.

Depending on charging infrastructure density, vehicle weight and battery size, ZF said the transmission can achieve up to 40% CO2 emission reduction/fuel savings in PHEV applications.

“The debut of the Traxon 2 hybrid in North America highlights ZF’s commitment to advancing cleaner mobility solutions for the commercial vehicle industry,” said John Hawkins, senior vice president of the Americas, commercial vehicle solutions at ZF. “Whether it’s full electrification, hybrid systems, or highly efficient ICE-based transmissions, we’re focused on delivering performance and total cost of ownership advantages across all segments.”

The Future of Electric Air Compression

In a world premiere, ZF also unveiled its latest electrification technology for commercial vehicles. 

The OE has developed an advanced air compressor for commercial vehicles. Designed as much for efficiency as it is for smooth operation, the e-comp Scroll is an oil-free, low-noise and minimal vibration air compression system for medium and heavy-duty hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell trucks, buses and coaches.

"By offering an oil-free, low-noise and low-vibration air compression system, we are addressing an EV requirement for quiet and efficient air generation,” said Head of Product Line, Chassis Solutions, for ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Paweł Porczyński. “The innovative design of the e-comp Scroll helps ensure efficient air compression and helps optimize total cost of ownership through low maintenance, achieved by eliminating the need for oil lubrication. By automatically switching off between compression cycles, the e-comp Scroll saves energy while helping to improve the overall experience for the driver, passengers and other road users alike. The introduction of this innovative solution expands ZF’s growing portfolio of innovative products and systems and our ability to help drive the industry’s transformation towards zero-emission commercial vehicle mobility.”

Key highlights of the e-comp Scroll include:

• Low Noise and Vibration: The e-comp Scroll uses interlocking scrolls for air compression, reducing noise to 67dB(A) at 250 liters per minute, similar to the sound level of an office environment. This is especially beneficial for electric vehicles, which are quieter than traditional vehicles, and therefore require other components, such as an air compressor, to ensure low-noise operation.

• Oil-Free and Energy Efficient: Operating oil-free, the e-comp Scroll eliminates the need for oil-lubrication, oil exchange, leaks and disposal and therefore lowers maintenance efforts. It also helps enhance energy efficiency by automatically switching off between compression cycles, saving power and lowering total cost of ownership.

• Integrated System Design: Powered by an electric motor, the e-comp Scroll can compress air up to 12.5 bar with variable speeds to meet different customer needs. It includes an inverter and liquid cooling to maintain temperature and further contribute to energy savings.