Tevva, the London-based British electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has successfully completed development of the regenerative braking system on its 7.5-tonne battery-electric truck. Part of this involved working with global Tier One supplier
ZF to integrate its electronic braking system (EBS) for use in zero-emission Tevva electric trucks; these use a blend of regenerative and compressed air brakes to add ‘an extra layer of safety and responsiveness’ for drivers.
Tevva engineers successfully met a range of stringent testing criteria for the company’s truck to receive ZF’s approval, working on fine-tuning the electric truck’s vehicle control unit (VCU) and enhance compatibility with the EBS. The result is a system that recuperates up to four-times more energy than a conventional compressed air brake system, thereby optimising the range of the Tevva truck. Testing of the adapted system, which took place at the ZF test track in Jeversen, Germany, involved a variety of conditions, gradients, and surface types.
The companies say that technological advancements allow a modern EBS system to control the blending of friction braking with the e-motor, reducing brake wear and tear. The system transfers the driver’s ‘deceleration request’ electronically to all braking system components to shorten response time, balance brake forces and provide ease of braking and efficient brake management.
Heiko Eggers, ZF’s head of commercial vehicle EMEA application engineering for braking and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system), said: “Our broad product portfolio, including ZF’s standardised electronic braking system, enables faster time-to-market for new, innovative market players such as Tevva. Their commitment and agile engineering expertise allowed us to meet our stringent safety requirements and complete our project. We look forward to seeing the first Tevva trucks on the road.”
Tevva’s 7.5-tonne battery-electric vehicle (BEV) has this year begun mass production at the company’s London facility. This will be followed by a 7.5-tonne hydrogen-electric truck, which benefits from a hydrogen range-extender that enhances vehicle range to 354 miles. The Tevva BEV offers up to 140 miles from its 105kWh battery on a single charge and is ‘ideal’ for last-mile and urban delivery fleets.