Vitesco Technologies reveals next-gen electric axle drive

Vitesco Technology, the global provider of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, has revealed its new, fourth generation model of highly integrated electric axle drive.

The EMR4 (Electronics Motor Reducer) offers high power density, compact dimensions and low weight. The comprehensive platform covers power requirements from 80 kW to 230 kW. Utilising the development and industrialisation expertise from the successful EMR3 and previous models, the new platform shows a high level of integration, modularisation, scalability, and standardisation.

This, says Vitesco, allows vehicle manufacturers worldwide to offer different power levels of the drive in one model without having to touch interfaces or mounting points. Compared to the award-winning EMR3, the EMR4 is even more energy efficient. It weighs 25 percent less at the same power level and is further cost optimised.

At the same power level, the new generation axle drive is 25 percent lighter.

“Electromobility is picking up speed. The key to supporting this megatrend lies in high efficiency and reliability as well as affordability for high-performing electric drive systems. We have anticipated this with the EMR4 design. This new axle drive platform offers a combination of benefits which will meet and exceed the requirements of vehicle manufacturers around the world,” said Thomas Stierle, Executive Vice-President - Electrification Technology business unit, Vitesco Technologies.
 
A platform to support electrification 
Bringing electrification to many new vehicle brands, segments, and models is a giant task for the automotive industry. “Greatest possible scalability of electric drives plus highest efficiency is the market demand. The EMR4 platform perfectly fits this bill,” said Gunter Muhlberg, head of Product Management Axle Drives at
Vitesco Technologies.

Although, EMR3 already set ambitious benchmarks in weight, compactness, and power density, EMR4 surpasses the current third generation. It delivers up to 5 percent increased efficiency of the whole axle drive (compared with the predecessor generation), significantly greater power scaling between 80 kW and 230 kW, and substantial cost reductions. “This is the result of consistent system optimization on detail level within numerous effect chains in the axle drive,” added Muhlberg.