Editor’s word: This story is a part of a particular part on the accelerating tempo of automotive improvement, engineering, innovation and manufacturing to be printed in sibling publication Automotive Information on Monday, Aug. 2.
On the subject of electrifying vans, automakers need to make sure that their automobiles can have the identical brawny towing and hauling capabilities that drivers are used to, even with an electrified axle.
That may take lots of improvement time, and as of late, automakers are in no temper to let something take lots of time.
That is why North America’s largest provider is seeking to velocity up truck electrification — with out sacrificing a truck’s greatest utility traits.
Magna Worldwide says its eBeam strategy will carry new electrified pickups and light-commercial automobiles to market quicker by utilizing new drop-in replacements for conventional beam axles, stated Ryan Shaw, Magna’s supervisor of superior engineering driveline programs in North America.
“It is one of many purest North American automotive sectors, the pickup truck — the holy grail of North American markets,” Shaw instructed Automotive Information. “That is the place automaker volumes are.
“It is actually vital to bridge this hole of conventional powertrains for conventional vans to electrified vans,” he added. “There’s 1,000,000 methods to resolve the electrification downside or provide you with an answer for pickup vans. However there’s in all probability lots of unsuitable methods to do it.”
The Canadian megasupplier’s eBeam is an electrified axle that makes use of a conventional beam axle structure and locations the electrical motor and gearbox instantly on that stable rear axle.
The eBeam integrates with a full battery-electric or hybrid car powertrain and is accessible with single or twin motors. Extra considerably for improvement schedule functions, the strategy can happen with out requiring the introduction of distinctive suspension, chassis or brake programs, and whereas preserving towing and payload capability.
“As a result of this phase of the market is so vital to our prospects, and there is a lot quantity at stake right here, it is vital to provide you with options shortly and successfully to get drivers into the seats of these automobiles,” Shaw stated.
“We actually wished to ensure we have been capable of meet or exceed what immediately’s automobiles are able to,” Shaw stated. “If the full-size truck phase is definitely going to be electrified, I need to be part of it to ensure it is completed proper, with actual truck house owners in thoughts.”
Not having to alter a complete car platform to impress it’s Magna’s largest promoting level for the eBeam, when it comes to time to market.
“It is a actually large enterprise to fully change a platform within the auto business, particularly one the place the volumes are as excessive as these full-size pickup vans are,” Shaw stated. “In the event you can preserve a few of these pickup factors and general integration technique, it turns into a pleasant, smoother transition into the electrification sector for these automobiles.”
The corporate is working with prospects that it isn’t but permitted to disclose and expects to show the know-how later this yr.
“Our product presents one thing for our prospects that they’ll basically drop into their current body and chassis architectures,” he added. “We’re using the present suspension and brake pickup factors, and lots of the identical packaging area that their current programs or architectures have.”