ZF to supply electric drives to Ford Trucks

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division has further underlined its status as Europe’s leading producer of electric drives after securing a long-term supplier agreement with Ford Trucks for e-mobility technologies. The agreement will see Ford’s only heavy commercial vehicle brand, Ford Trucks, equip its upcoming lines of electrified heavy trucks with ZF’s latest state-of-the-art zero emissions technologies.

“With Ford Trucks, we have gained a major international customer for our new e-mobility drive platform. This underlines our leading position in Europe for electric commercial drives,” said Prof. Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the ZF Board of Management and responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Division. “Ford Trucks’ trust in us shows that we can offer market-leading solutions for e-mobility to support our customers in their transformation towards sustainable transportation solutions.”

Emrah Duman, Ford Trucks’ vice-president, said: “Beyond innovative processes, product readiness and competitiveness, a trusted relationship and the highest quality standards are essential for us. Additionally, a well-defined sustainability roadmap is key for our selected suppliers supporting us in our mission to develop best-in-class commercial vehicles that enable sustainable transport solutions. And we are glad that a long-established brand like ZF is one of them. Ford Trucks has always been at the forefront of innovation in the heavy commercial vehicle industry, and this new agreement with ZF further solidifies its mission to lead the shift towards sustainable transport.”

The first product to be supplied by ZF will be its central electric drive, the CeTrax 2 dual.

ZF’s CeTrax 2 series: compact and modular design
ZF will first supply the CeTrax 2 dual electric central drive for Ford Trucks’ heavy duty Electric Rigid Truck, which is making its world premiere at the IAA Transportation 2024. Under the agreement, ZF will also supply further electric drive variants as upcoming models enter production.

The compact and modular design of ZF’s CeTrax 2 series enables the drives to fit within the same mounting space as a conventional ICE transmission. This gives manufacturers the flexibility to install either a combustion drivetrain or a CeTrax 2 electric central drive on the same production line, depending on the customer’s configuration. This flexibility enables manufacturers to manage the transition towards e-mobility production effectively, especially during the initial ramp up phase when volumes are relatively small compared to traditional ICE lines.

As part of the agreement, ZF will also equip Ford Trucks’ Electric Rigid Truck with its Electrically Powered Hydraulic Steering Pump (EPHS). Equipped with an e-motor, this steering device is designed to provide on-demand hydraulic flow enabling the efficient operation of the commercial vehicle’s hydraulic steering system independent of the vehicle’s drivetrain.

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