ZF unveils next-gen electric axle at Busworld Turkiye 2024

At the Busworld Turkiye trade show in Istanbul (May 29 to 31), ZF has presented its latest technologies for bus manufacturers and fleets to deliver more decarbonized, safer and connected public transportation. In a first for the country, ZF’s next-generation electric axle for low-floor city buses, the AxTrax 2 LF, takes centre stage at the ZF booth.

The new axle represents ZF’s latest e-Mobility evolution, offering improved performance to further enable the commercial vehicle industry’s transformation towards a decarbonized future. 

The AxTrax 2 LF forms part of ZF’s next-generation modular e-mobility kit, sharing innovative components such as an electric motor with hairpin winding technology and an 800 V silicon carbide (SiC) inverter. It is available with a continuous output of up to 360 kW and a peak torque of up to 37,300 Nm, giving it an impressive climbing ability of 20% for articulated buses with a gross vehicle weight of up to 29 tons with one drive axle. 

At the same time, AxTrax 2 LF offers up to 10% energy savings compared to the previous generation. Its compact design maximizes available space for the passenger compartment, and despite being more powerful, the required space is comparable to that of the AxTrax AVE. The new axle is fully compatible with ZF's air suspension and braking systems. On the software side, AxTrax 2 LF also benefits from ZF's extensive experience in developing state-of-the-art features such as axle condition monitoring and cybersecurity. Series production of AxTrax 2 LF is scheduled to start in 2025. 

On the safety side, ZF’s new ADAS solutions including OnHand EPH as well as its advanced Collision Mitigation System (CMS) for city buses are also on show. Visitors can also experience a live demonstration of ZF’s digital fleet management solution Bus Connect while the advanced fleet orchestration platform SCALAR is also featured.