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ZF E-BUS SOFTWARE
ZF E-BUS ‘ENERGY REGULATION’ SOFTWARE LAUNCHED German tech giant ZF has launched new ‘energy management software’ for electric commercial vehicles.
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F’s NEW Energy Management System (EMS) software solution regulates the energy allocation for driveline and auxiliary units in electric buses and trucks, with benefits including higher energy efficiency, longer battery life and easier system integration, ZF says. It is available as an add-on to systems already in volume production, ZF confirms. With its new EMS software, ZF is providing another attractive proposal for the commercial vehicle market, it states. According to the company, the management now takes a central role in the electric or electrified driveline, as the ZF EMS can control all auxiliary units such as air compressors, steering pumps and thermal management, as well as coordinating the energy requirements of the driveline. This integrated approach can help make 26
electrically driven commercial vehicles more efficient, ZF claims, saying that energy consumption per kilometre can be reduced, resulting in a corresponding increase in range, as well as a potentially positive influence on the battery’s service life. In addition, there are further advantages for maintenance, diagnosis and reduced battery costs, ZF says.
ADD-ON SOLUTION ZF offers the EMS as an add-on to commercial vehicle electric drive systems already in volume production. In terms of how it works, the EMS coordinates the correct start-up and availability and interaction of all components in the vehicle relevant for the flow of energy, ZF explains. This ranges from the battery’s state of charge to the electric drive and all auxiliary units, such as the
compressor, DC/DC converter and heating. “Only such an integrative approach makes it possible to further increase the efficiency of electric vehicles,” said Winfried Gründler, the person responsible for e-mobility in ZF‘s Commercial Vehicle Technology division. “This illustrates the strategic importance that software expertise has for our group strategy: next Generation mobility,” he stated. In this context, by utilising other recognised ZF functions, such as ePreVision, the system can be made more powerful, the company adds. Thanks to the predictive ePreVision function, the software takes the topographical profile of the route into account to coordinate the energy requirements of the consumables. For example, during predictable, long downhill
ABC July 2021 busnews.com.au
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20/07/2021 12:01:08 PM
