Schaeffler is paving the way for the electrification of commercial vehicles with a range of products including fuel cells, a modular system for electric drives, a drive-by-wire system and digital solutions.

With projects like the Bio-Hybrid and the Schaeffler Mover, the automotive and industrial supplier has already demonstrated that when it comes to future mobility, it is focusing on more than just passenger cars.

Making a start in the electrification of commercial vehicles is he next logical step. With its new activities in the ‘heavy-duty’ sector, Schaeffler will also offer solutions to the commercial-vehicle market that go beyond its current range of products for engines, transmissions and chassis systems.

Schaeffler’s E-Drive (www.schaeffler.com) is a modular system that comprises an electric motor, software and power electronics, making customer-specific system solutions for commercial vehicles possible — particularly with regard to functionality and optimum efficiency.

Meanwhile, an important product for autonomous driving comes from Schaeffler Paravan Technologie GmbH.

In addition to its drive and brake actuation function, the core element of the Space Drive is its steer-by-wire function, which enables vehicles to be steered safely and reliably purely by means of electronic control signals.

The Space Drive has a triple-redundant design and is currently the only system of its kind to be licensed world-wide for on-road use.

It is used in 8,500 vehicles world-wide, and over one billion km have so far been covered with no accidents.

Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive OEM at Schaeffler, said: “We are bundling and expanding our expertise with new activities in the field of commercial vehicles.

"Our reliable and cost-effective modules for engines, transmissions, and chassis systems are already known throughout the industry.

"We are convinced that our innovative products for the hybridisation and electrification of drive trains in commercial vehicles, such as the modular E-Drive system, will help our customers to meet ambitious emission limit values.”