Hendrickson has introduced a new electric drive axle aimed at medium-duty commercial vehicles, marking the company’s first-ever electric axle and first drive axle product. The new Electraax e-axle is designed for Class 6-7 applications, including school buses and pickup-and-delivery trucks.
The integrated system combines the axle, electric motor, inverter, and single-speed gearbox into a single lightweight package intended to improve efficiency and reduce overall vehicle weight.
This innovative design achieves up to 94% efficiency in internal testing, which could help extend driving range and reduce battery demands. The fabricated modular design offers multiple configurations for track widths, gearing, suspensions, and brakes, allowing OEMs to tailor the axle for different chassis and applications.
Full motor-torque regenerative braking helps maximize energy recovery, reducing wear on brake components and extending their lifespan.
A single-speed gearbox design reduces friction and weight compared to multi-speed gearboxes, providing a smooth ride without shift-quality concerns for pickup-and-delivery duty cycles. This reduction in component count supports increased long-term reliability.
The lighter-weight design can help fleets balance payload capacity with EV battery requirements while potentially lowering total cost of ownership. Hendrickson partnered with Driventic to develop the Electraax, which specializes in modern drive technologies for trucks, buses, and off-highway applications.
Targeted at medium-duty duty cycles such as school transportation, food and beverage delivery, and last-mile operations, Electraax is engineered specifically for these applications. The launch represents a significant milestone in Hendrickson's electrification strategy as commercial vehicle manufacturers continue expanding EV offerings in the medium-duty market.
The partnership between Hendrickson and Driventic brings together over a century of suspension and ride-system experience with expertise in modern drive technologies, resulting in a reliable and efficient e-axle solution.
The Electraax e-axle represents a significant milestone in Hendrickson's electrification strategy, expanding EV offerings in the medium-duty market.
