ZF has produced more than three million electric motors of the types used worldwide in electric vehicles (EVs); these cover the broad spectrum of vehicle electrification, from purely electrically powered passenger cars and plug-in hybrids to electric drives for commercial vehicles.
ZF says the global demand for electric drives for passenger cars and commercial vehicles is increasing rapidly, as are the company’s production figures. Roland Hintringer, head of ZF’s electric motors product line, said: “Within just 18 months, ZF has doubled electric motor production from just under one and a half million to three million. Thanks to highly automated, volume-flexible, and modular systems, we can serve our global customers as required.
“Our role as an innovator is also an important factor. ZF is to develop the magnetic-free electric motor I²SM — a separately excited synchronous machine with inductive energy transfer — for volume production; and in contrast to the magnetic-free concepts available on the market today, it is uniquely compact and has the highest power and torque density.
“ZF recently demonstrated the potential of its new developments for further efficiency, and thus range gains in electromobility, with the EVSys800 electric drive. The prototype is 35% lighter than current electric drives and reduces CO
2 emissions in production and operation by 20%. Innovative stator winding technologies, a new cooling concept, and a compact design make these major optimisation leaps possible.”
ZF already produces electric motors at locations in Asia and Europe, and production facilities are currently being installed in North America. The company currently serves the major automotive markets at Hangzhou and Shenyang (China), Pančevo (Serbia), Schweinfurt (Germany), Trnava (Slovakia), Saltillo (Mexico), and Gray Court (the USA).