New Tech, New Challenges for Axles & Suspensions
Despite decades of supplying and improving upon some of the oldest and most reliable components found on trucks, axle and suspension manufacturers are facing new challenges as new operational demands and technology take hold in trucking.
Conventional truck designs are laser-focused on uptime and fuel economy, requiring lighter designs and even new lubricating fluid metering systems to reduce parasitic horsepower loss due to “churn” at cruising speeds. As with any vehicle system, electronic sensors that can communicate data on an axle’s health in real time are finding their way onto new axles.
And axles are in the spotlight now as new electric vehicle technology takes root in trucking with a new set of unique operational demands.
In fact, Meritor CEO Jay Craig says he’s never seen the trucking industry undergo such rapid change. At the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta in September, Meritor announced that it is developing a new portfolio of electric drivetrains to meet these new demands and ensure electric truck customers have the capability and reliability they’ll need.
“We’re also committed to electrification,” Craig said. “We’ve had a lot of interest from OEs on how we can start to work with them to launch demonstrator and production vehicles as well.”
Essentially, Meritor is focusing on integrating an electric motor into the differential carrier. The flexible e-carrier design will be the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, single, or tandem axles with various options based on application.
Also at NACV, Bosch showcased several future-focused powertrain concepts, including the eCity Truck diesel hybrid system for light commercial vehicles that uses an electric axle. The eAxle is a scalable, modular platform with the motor, power electronics, and transmission forming a single compact unit.
Late last year, Dana announced a Spicer Electrified portfolio of fully integrated motor, control, and e-drive technologies designed to …Read the rest of this story
