Michigan-based Meritor Inc., a global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets, has announced a strategic investment in TransPower, a California-based provider of electrification technologies for large commercial vehicles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
According to the partners, TransPower supplies integrated drive systems, full electric truck solutions and energy-storage subsystems to manufacturers of trucks, school buses, refuse vehicles and terminal tractors. The company has been focused exclusively on developing electrical drive solutions for more than seven years.
“TransPower’s extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with electrical vehicle (EV) technologies and system integration gives us a significant competitive advantage in developing electrical drive systems for this evolving market,” says Jay Craig, CEO and president for Meritor. “This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver high-efficiency solutions for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles supported by proven solutions.”
With its investment in TransPower, Meritor expects to accelerate introduction of its flexible electric axle platform for various drivetrain configurations, including full electric, hybrid, single or tandem axles. Meritor’s lightweight carrier is designed for city-delivery, medium-duty and transit bus, as well as off-road and severe-duty applications.
TransPower’s electric drive solutions have been in daily use in commercial vehicles built by major OEMs with approximately 110,000 miles logged, according to Michael Simon, president and CEO of TransPower. The company also retrofits its electric drive solutions into existing vehicle platforms.
“Meritor’s investment in TransPower could enable large-scale manufacturing of electric drive components and systems,” Simon says. “Our expertise in systems engineering and controls for EVs complements Meritor’s strong brand and century of experience in designing and manufacturing drivetrain products for the commercial vehicle industry.”