ZF Services Australia showcased its AVE 130 electric portal bus axle at the 2016 Australian Bus + Coach Show.
Its liquid-cooled electric motors, integrated directly into the axle can be fed from different power sources.
In addition to plug-in battery operation, with or without a range extender, energy can be supplied by fuel cells or overhead cables.
Since the driving energy is supplied to the electric motors via power cables instead of mechanical linkages, manufacturers can arrange components differently, compared to conventional buses.
Its high-torque electric motors help to set fully loaded buses in motion quickly, and they switch to generator mode to retain braking energy when coming to a stop.
“ZF has been supporting the Australian and New Zealand bus and coach markets for 30 years and we look forward to supplying and servicing the industry for many more years to come,” ZF Services Australia managing director Mark Sookias says.
“Our stand at the recent Australian Bus & Coach Show demonstrated our full service and product offering.”
ZF’s EcoLife six-speed automatic transmission, suitable for city driving or long-distance, was also on display at the show.
The transmission comes with the TopoDyn Life shift control system, which ensures the vehicle is in the correct gear for the terrain.