Range Energy and ZF are teaming up to launch electric powered trailers in North America, the companies announced Tuesday.
ZF's AxTrax 2 e-axle will be integrated into Range's eTrailer system. The companies say this addresses demands of greater efficiency, emissions reductions and range extension to advance the widespread scalability of hybrid and zero-emissions trucking.
[RELATED: Range, Thermo King partner for electric refrigerated trailers]
"We believe electrified trailers are a viable solution to help lower emissions for food delivery or transportation of goods, improve fuel economy for combustion engines in the powertrain, extend the range of BEV and electric trucks, reduce exhaust, noise and brake particle pollution, and further improve the total cost of ownership," says John Hawkins, senior vice president of commercial vehicle solutions for ZF. "With Range's market position, the company was a logical trailer partner for the AxTrax 2 e-axle in North America."
ZF will also help Range partner with other component suppliers and foster integrations with trailer and tractor OEMs, a news release says.
[RELATED: ZF Aftermarket, HDA Truck Pride partner to offer WABCO products]
Range's eTrailer includes a modular battery pack, the ZF e-axle, and a smart kingpin equipped with Range's patented control algorithms. Range says the trailer delivers up to $20,000 in projected savings per year and a 70% reduction in emissions using existing equipment and infrastructure.
"Time is of the essence to get solutions into the hands of commercial fleet owners and operators to ensure smooth and consistent operations as their fleets evolve to address emissions reduction targets," says Ali Javidan, CEO and founder of Range. "Partnering with a market leader like ZF in an effort to seize the electric trailer market in commercial trucking is humbling. With ZF, we aim to rapidly advance our platform with tried and tested components, further proving that electric powered trailers can play a critical role in reducing the environmental impact of commercial trucking."
Customer deliveries of the Range eTrailer are expected to begin this year.
