During the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, ZF premiered its new AxTrax 2 electric axle platform, an
integrated and modular e-powertrain system for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Series production of AxTrax 2 is planned to begin in the U.S. in 2025, and in Europe in late 2024.

The AxTrax 2 platform will be offered in two variants: AxTrax 2 with one e-drive and AxTrax 2 dual with two integrated e-drives. AxTrax 2 will cover Class 5-7 commercial vehicles with a single e-axle in a 4×2 or 6×2 or up to Class 8 with two e-axles in a 6×4 configuration. Both models of AxTrax 2 are designed to replace the engine, transmission, driveshaft, differential and conventional axle to electrify a commercial vehicle.

AxTrax 2 is an axle-based, fully integrated system, featuring a compact design to help maximize the available space for batteries and enhance the manufacturer’s design flexibility for future vehicle concepts, ZF says. AxTrax 2 can fully synchronize with key vehicle functions, including braking, ADAS and automated driving systems. It also enables digital and telematics systems via CAN bus to communicate and share e-axle system information, ZF says.