Bosch unveils new electric axle for heavy electric trucks
At the IAA Transportation, Bosch is showcasing a new electric rigid axle for heavy commercial vehicles. The Rigid eAxle integrates an electric motor and gearbox and is designed for vehicles weighing between 18 and 49 tons. Additionally, the supplier is presenting new solutions for thermal management, driver assistance, and software-defined trucks.
Bosch combines the Rigid eAxle with SiC inverters that achieve an efficiency of up to 99 percent.
Image: Bosch
With the Rigid eAxle, Bosch is expanding its drive portfolio for electric commercial vehicles. This new rigid axle integrates key components of the electric powertrain, such as the electric motor and gearbox, and covers a wide range from 18 to 49 tons. According to Bosch, this integrated solution is designed to reduce weight and improve efficiency compared to a separate electric drive system. However, the supplier has not yet provided specific figures regarding performance or weight savings.
The E-Axle can be combined with Bosch’s silicon carbide inverters, which the company claims have an efficiency rate of up to 99 percent. A global production and distribution network will enable Bosch to deliver these drive components locally in various markets.
Bosch is also making progress in thermal management. A new high-voltage blower module has been developed specifically for electric commercial vehicles and off-highway applications using an 800-volt architecture. It is intended to cool key vehicle components as needed while reducing the energy consumption of thermal management systems. Bosch expects this to yield benefits in terms of efficiency and range.
Bosch equips trucks for greater automation
Beyond the powertrain, Bosch is focusing on the software-defined commercial vehicle segment at IAA. Centralized E/E architectures and powerful vehicle computers are set to take over increasingly more functions that were previously distributed across individual control units. The Vehicle Integration Platform, for example, consolidates functions from the Motion, Energy, and Body areas on a single central computing platform, enabling features such as over-the-air updates.
A concrete example is driver monitoring. Bosch integrates the camera required for this purpose into the left screen of its digital side mirror. According to the supplier, two European truck manufacturers are already using this solution in series production. Currently, a separate control unit processes the camera data, but in the future, this task will be handled by a central domain computer.
Bosch is also preparing heavier commercial vehicles for more automated driving functions in terms of steering. The new all-electric ServoE operates without hydraulic oil and adjusts its performance as needed. Thanks to its redundant design and cybersecure software architecture, it is designed to enable assisted and automated steering functions. According to Bosch, this technology could eventually serve as a foundation for steer-by-wire systems that eliminate mechanical connections between the steering wheel and wheels.
Meanwhile, Bosch continues to explore multiple propulsion options for heavy commercial vehicles. The company offers fuel cell systems with outputs ranging from 100 to 300 kW for buses and long-haul trucks, as well as components for hydrogen internal combustion engines. The focus on hydrogen gains additional momentum at the IAA, as Bosch is part of a newly formed alliance alongside Daimler Truck, Volvo, Toyota, and companies from the energy and infrastructure sectors, all aiming to accelerate the commercial deployment of hydrogen trucks and the development of related infrastructure in Europe.