The electric buses will be
built by British manufacturer Optare and comply with one of the strictest
emissions regulations worldwide. This shows how ZF is supporting zero local
emissions with attractive, inner-city mobility solutions. The second success is
marked by a new chapter in the partnership between ZF and New Flyer of America,
Inc., the leading North American city bus manufacturer. The transport
associations of several major U.S. cities have ordered 100 buses from the
Xcelsior CHARGE model series equipped with ZF’s AxTrax AVE electric portal
axle.
CLICK HERE TO READ: ASHOK LEYLAND SUBSIDIARY OPTARE WINS WORLD’S FIRST
ELECTRIC DOUBLE DECKER ORDER
"ZF supplies purely
electric drive systems especially which meet the strictest emissions
regulations for urban metropolises“, said Fredrik Staedtler, head of the
Commercial Vehicle Technology Division at ZF. "The AxTrax AVE drive axle
is an ideal solution for manufacturers and municipalities to shape their local
inner-city traffic with zero emissions, while at the same time providing an
attractive mobility offer. I am delighted that London and other metropolises in
the U.S. have now also chosen to work with ZF as a partner," he added.
Like most major cities, Great Britain’s
capital, London, suffers from poor air quality. Public transport systems can
play a key role in fighting air pollution, which is why Transport for London
(TfL), London’s public transport authority, is fully focused on e-mobility. The
Metrodecker EV, flagship of Optare's bus portfolio, highlights this focus.
Thirty-one new model buses will be equipped with the AxTrax AVE – ZF’s powerful
and quiet drive with zero local emissions. The potential remains huge as London
plans all buses in the city center to be electrically powered by 2037.
ZF and the vehicle
manufacturer New Flyer of America, Inc. have cooperated for over 20 years to
build powerful and efficient buses. A new order in the U.S. demonstrates just
how much both companies have benefited from this collaboration in the age of
electro-mobility. A total of 100 buses from the Xcelsior CHARGE model series
will be delivered to public transport companies in several U.S. cities by 2020.
These include the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority,
King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority in Boston and Metro Transit in Minneapolis.
The AxTrax AVE was introduced
for the first time in 2012 and has been successfully deployed around the world
ever since. The electric drive axle can be combined with hybrid as well as fuel
cell configurations or be powered by a battery. Due to the flat design,
manufacturers have a great deal of freedom when it comes to designing the
interior. As a system supplier, ZF can also deliver the appropriate hardware
and software to optimally align performance, efficiency and service life of the
drive.
Source: ZF