Ground breaking European gearless electric drive technology might soon appear in Australia after its proof of concept takes a major prize in Germany.
Ziehl-Abegg, a family-owned German manufacturer known for its electric motors, has been awarded an environmental prize for developing a new electric bus technology entitled Zawheel.
Zawheel is an electric wheel-hub drive, essentially meaning that the motor is confined within the ultra-wide wheels, removing the need for efficiency-sapping transmissions and differentials.
By having the drive directly in the wheel, torque is generated and used at the same location, a feat which Ziehl-Abegg claims results in not simply an environmental advantage, but an improvement in driver comfort.
Regenerative braking is also included for further efficiency gains.
Ziehl-Abegg claims that compared to a diesel bus on a typical city cycle, the Zawheel offers 50 percent lower energy consumption and emissions, as well as a 90 percent reduction of noise.
Installation space and fitting dimensions are said to be compatible with common standard portal axles for low-floor buses, meaning that retrofitting is possible without requiring extensive modifications to the bus undercarriage.
Peter Fenkl, CEO of Ziehl-Abegg, says that “The fact that the sixth-largest European bus manufacturer, VDL Bus & Coach, has been equipping new vehicles with our drive since May highlights its practical scope.”
Over 100 entries were submitted for the emission reduction category of Baden-Württemberg’s Environmental Technology prize, and the Zawheel took third place.