Range Energy, a developer of commercial electric trailers, announced a partnership with ZF. The companies will develop and promote the Range eTrailer System in North America. The partnership includes the integration of ZF’s AxTrax 2 e-axle into Range’s eTrailer System to meet the demands of increased efficiency, reduced emissions, and extended range, the companies said.

Technological Advancements

ZF said it aims to support Range by enhancing relationships with ecosystem partners, including component suppliers and OEMs. Range’s eTrailer System features a modular battery pack, the ZF AxTrax 2 e-axle and a smart kingpin. Range said that its tests indicate up to $20,000 in savings for each electric trailer annually. Also, a potential 70% emissions reduction.

Features of AxTrax 2

The AxTrax 2 is an axle-based system with a compact design, maximizing space for batteries and providing design flexibility. The company says it synchronizes with key functions like braking and ADAS. Additionally, the partners say AxTrax2 supports advanced digital communications.

Statements from the Companies

John Hawkins, ZF’s senior vice president of Commercial Vehicle Solutions, stated, “Electrified trailers present a viable solution to lower emissions for transporting goods, improve fuel economy, and reduce pollution. The collaboration with Range expands the application of our products and offers smart solutions to emissions in a challenging sector.”

“Time is of the essence to get solutions into the hands of commercial fleet owners and operators to ensure smooth and consistent operations as their fleets evolve to address emissions reduction targets. With ZF, we aim to rapidly advance our platform with tried and tested components, further proving that electric-powered trailers can play a critical role in reducing the environmental impact of commercial trucking,” said Ali Javidan, CEO and founder of Range.

Upcoming Customer Deliveries of Electric Trailers

Range Energy expects to begin customer deliveries of the eTrailer System this year. It says it is currently deploying pre-production units in pilot programs across North America.