Meritor Announces Major Electric Truck Push for 2019

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Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  January 9, 2019

Building on the array of products and prototypes it displayed at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany last fall, Meritor has announced it has 22 electrification programs with global OEMs that is expected to put at least 130 fully electric medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks on the road through 2020.

"These emission-free solutions offered under Meritor's Blue Horizon technology brand have the potential to transform the industry by meeting the rising global demand for clean, electric-powered drivetrains that we believe will deliver a high-efficiency solution that greatly reduces the total cost of ownership for our customers," said John Bennett, vice president and chief technology officer for Meritor. "These programs position Meritor for future growth in an emerging industry segment."

According to Meritor, in the first half of this year, a major fleet customer will begin operating the first of six medium-duty Peterbilt Model 220EV Class 6 pick-up and delivery trucks equipped with Meritor's 14Xe electric drive systems and fully integrated subsystems from TransPower, a leader in electrification technologies for large commercial vehicles. In 2017, Meritor announced a strategic investment in TransPower.

Meritor's eCarrier platform integrates an electric motor into the axle, freeing up space for batteries and other components. This flexible design is the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid and single or tandem axles with various options based on product application for vehicle Classes 5 through 8.

Among the 130 commercial vehicles expected to be placed into service by 2020, 60 of these trucks received funding from the California Air Resources Board as part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions in freight facilities.  

In addition to the truck applications, a prototype school bus outfitted with Meritor and TransPower electrification solutions has been exceeding expectations during testing in Escondido, California since late May. Testing includes climbing steep grades, stop-and-go at low speeds, off-road and freeway driving as well as heavy-load hauling on rural roads.

"Several large customers have come out to see and ride the bus, and their comments are very complimentary from ride comfort, noise, vibration and harshness, acceleration, top speed and design simplicity standpoints," Bennett added.

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Meritor Invests in Electrification Technology Provider TransPower

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  April 2, 2019

Meritor has announced an additional strategic investment in TransPower, an electrification technologies provider for large commercial vehicles, to support future growth. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This investment will allow us to advance the development of transformative electrification technologies for the commercial vehicle industry," said Jay Craig, chief executive officer and president, Meritor. "Our collaboration with TransPower has proved successful in the early phase of our electrification strategy and we believe it will continue to create a winning formula as we look ahead to low-volume production in the future."

Meritor's investment will fund continued improvements in the development of controls for its eAxle and commercialization of electric vehicle system solutions from both companies. Through various programs with major OEMs, almost 100 vehicles are planned to be equipped with Meritor and TransPower electrification systems between 2019 and 2020.

Meritor's eCarrier platform integrates an electric motor into the axle, freeing up space for batteries and other components. The design serves as the foundation for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, and single or tandem axles with various options based on product application for vehicle Classes 5 through 8.

California-based TransPower supplies integrated drive systems, full electric truck solutions and energy-storage subsystems to major manufacturers of trucks, school buses, refuse vehicles and terminal tractors. The company has been focused exclusively on developing electrical drive solutions for more than seven years.