Meritor Inc., a global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets, says production of its 14Xe all-electric, fully integrated, commercial electric powertrain for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles will begin in the middle of the year.
Meritor received the first Class 8 truck production contract for electric powertrains in the industry in early 2020. Part of Meritor’s Blue Horizon advanced technology portfolio, the 14Xe ePowertrain is the only electric powertrain for Class 8 trucks ready for production, bringing the industry a zero-emission solution.
“The 14Xe ePowertrain has been tested in various conditions around the world with several OEMs, vehicle types and applications, so we can offer the industry a proven electric powertrain technology,” says T.J. Reed, vice president of global electrification for Meritor. “In January 2020, we announced our agreement with PACCAR to be its non-exclusive supplier of electric powertrains. One year later, we are nearing production and preparing to put vehicles on the road.”
The 14Xe electric powertrain, which will be produced at Meritor’s facilities in Asheville and Forest City, N.C., is designed to provide efficiency, performance, weight savings and space utilization, notes the company.
Key advantages of the 14Xe ePowertrain over remote mount systems include:
-Tighter turning radius due to a shorter wheelbase
-Increased room between frame rails for additional battery capacity, which extends the range of the vehicle
-Lighter weight (up to 800 pounds)
-Meritor’s powertrain control module complies with ISO-26262 ASIL-C rating, the international standard for functional safety in the automotive industry that applies to electrical and electronic systems consisting of hardware and software components in vehicles
Photo: Meritor’s 14Xe ePowertrain