Hendrickson adds electric drive axle

Hendrickson recently introduced ElecTraax, a high‑efficiency, lightweight electric drive axle powered by Driventic and engineered for medium-duty truck applications.

ElecTraax features a fully integrated ePowertrain that combines the axle, single-speed gearbox, motor, and inverter in one system to maximize efficiency. The design helps deliver up to 94% system‑level efficiency, which can extend vehicle range and reduce energy requirements based on internal testing, Hendrickson reported.

“The fabricated, modular architecture is designed for ultimate flexibility, with a wide range of track width, gear train, suspension, and brake options to align with diverse chassis platforms and vehicle specifications,” the company stated in a news release. “This integrated system design combined with a lightweight fabricated axle housing helps address EV weight and efficiency targets by reducing system mass, helping extend range, enabling potential battery reduction, and supporting lower total cost of ownership.”

Key design advantages include:

• Full motor torque regenerative braking, helping maximize energy recovery
• Single-speed gearbox design, reducing friction and weight compared to multi-speed gearboxes

Ride quality, applications, and a new electric milestone

A single-speed gearbox provides a smooth ride without shift‑quality concerns for pickup‑and‑delivery duty cycles, while reducing component count to support increased long‑term reliability. Driventic’s electric drive system adds an efficient motor with a power‑dense inverter to deliver extended peak torque for sustained, consistent power during acceleration, hill climbs, and heavy hauling.

ElecTraax is purpose-built for Class 6–7 medium-duty commercial vehicles, focusing on school buses and pickup-and-delivery trucks, including food, beverage, and last-mile. This focus helps OEMs and fleets meet stringent battery and weight requirements, balance route performance and payload, and support more cost‑effective EV adoption by reducing weight and improving efficiency simultaneously, Hendrickson maintained.

Co‑engineered with Driventic (formerly Voith), ElecTraax combines Hendrickson’s 110-plus years of ride-solution innovation with Driventic’s 155 years of electric‑drive system expertise. “With centuries of combined global engineering leadership, the partnership is delivering cutting‑edge EV technology and accelerating the shift to electrified mobility,” the company concluded. “ElecTraax gives OEMs and customers tangible validation of next‑generation electric drive suspension capability and reinforces Hendrickson’s position as an innovation leader in commercial vehicle systems.

“ElecTraax represents two milestones and one breakthrough: Hendrickson’s first drive axle and first electric axle, marking a new era in Hendrickson innovation for electric commercial vehicle systems.”