Author: Autocar_Professional India Online News

Michigan-headquartered AxleTech, which engineers, designs, manufactures, sells and services powertrain solutions for on- and off-highway heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has entered into a strategic agreement with Agility Fuel Solutions, the leading global provider of clean fuel solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The two companies plan to combine their respective processes and technologies to deliver highly refined vehicle controls systems for the most advanced electric vehicle (EV) powertrains developed.

“The desire for electric powertrain solutions is growing rapidly in the commercial vehicle market, and AxleTech is ready to lead the way,” said Bill Gryzenia, CEO, AxleTech. “Agility brings extensive experience to the table with their knowledge of integrating systems into trucks, their controls experience for commercial trucks, and their approach to battery packaging for the commercial vehicle market. Strategic alliances like this one are what enables us to offer a complete integrated electric powertrain solution for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.”

“Agility is honored to work with AxleTech in this effort to meet the demand for electrification,” said Todd Sloan, Agility’s SVP – Innovation & New Business Development. “AxleTech’s next-generation e-powertrain combined with their knowledge and proficiency in powertrain applications make them an ideal partner for strategically driving the commercial transportation industry.”

As part of this strategic alliance, Agility will contribute high-voltage, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery packs specifically engineered for the intensive demands of CV applications. Modular in design, these batteries are the lightest and most compact liquid-cooled battery packs available for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Complementing some of AxleTech’s electric powertrain solutions that fit within current chassis, suspension, and wheel end envelopes, Agility batteries are configurable to chassis requirements and contain external interface points designed to ease installation and service. The collaboration also supports AxleTech’s power-source agnostic approach thanks to Agility’s experience working with a variety of transportation fuels including battery electric energy storage and delivery systems.

AxleTech plans to introduce several EV product breakthroughs in April, including:
– An off-highway electric axle at Bauma, April 8-14 in Munich, Germany.
– One of the most efficient electric powertrains in the world for Class 6 through 8 trucks, as well as the most compact and powerful electric powertrain system for low-floor bus applications at the ACT Expo, April 23-26 in Long Beach, California.
– Partner on a demo electric tactical wheeled vehicle at the IDEF show, April 30-May 3 in Istanbul, Turkey.