busnews.com.au July 2019 ABC^29Top:
Thise-busretrofit
solutionmade
itsinternational
debutatUITP
2019,inSweden.
Opposite,
Above,Below:
WithZF,e-troFit
saysit has
secureda strong
“OEMquality”
partnerforthe
international
marketlaunch;
Thebattery
capacityand
rangearetailored
toindividual
operator
requirements.“However, replacing existing bus
fleets completely with new electric
vehicles is neither economical nor
sustainable – a new electric bus is
considerably more expensive than a
conventional diesel bus.
“In addition to the lower
acquisition costs, e-troFit also has
other positive aspects, as the service
life of existing vehicles is extended.
Wear-prone drive components will
be replaced as part of the conversion
and, thanks to the refurbishment
and modernisation of the passenger
compartment, a sustainable
second-use of the vehicle as an
electric bus will be possible.”
ZF CONNECTION
With ZF, e-troFit says it has secured
a strong “OEM quality” partner for
the international market launch.
As a system supplier, ZF supplies
powertrain components for the
e-troFit kit – the AxTrax AVE electric
drive system (as used in the eCitaro,
apparently) – the Openmatics
telematics system, and application
and installation expertise. Also with
its global workshop network, ZF also
doubles as a retrofitting and service
partner, it explains.
Helmut Ernst, head of ZF’s
Aftermarket Division, explains:
“Together with in-tech, we offer
a one-stop shop solution for the
retrofit. With the CeTrax and AxTrax
AVE electric drive systems, ZF
supplies future-oriented products.
“CeTrax can be installed directly
into the existing vehicle platform
without having to make major
changes to the chassis, axles or
differential. In addition, ZF provides
the required expertise including
workshop capacities and acts as
a trading and service partner.”
THE SUM OF ALL PARTS
According to the companies, ZF
supplies original components – the
AxTrax AVE electric portal axle and
the CeTrax electric central drive –
and offers access to the worldwide
workshop network.
AxTrax AVE is ideally suited for the
fully electronic drive of city buses of
all manufacturers, it says. CeTrax can
be installed directly into the existing
vehicle platform without having to
make major changes to the chassis,
suspensionordifferential,it adds.
Compared to other solutions, ZF’s
central drive offers significant weight
advantages, high performance,
and excellent efficiency, it
claims. In combination with
“in-tech’s extensive development
competence”, the partnership
ensures that a high-quality product
comparable to a serial production
vehicle is created, it says.READY TO ROLL
e-troFit is a subsidiary of in-tech – a
Munich, Germany, based technology
company with extensive experience
in the automotive industry, it states.
Orders can be taken now and
the first buses will be delivered in
the fourth quarter of 2019, it says- though thus far it seems kits are
only available for the European
Mercedes-Benz Citaro I Solobus. In
future there will be kits for the
Citaro II Solobus (from mid-2020)
and Citaro II articulated buses
(late 2020). Also planned are kits
for other manufacturers’ city buses,
reports say.INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS
According to the company, the
battery capacity and range of the
buses are tailored to the individual
requirements of each operator on
the basis of a route analysis – saving
costs and weight. Conversion
with e-troFit is on average 50 per
cent cheaper than an electrically
powered new vehicle, it claims.SECOND LIFE
As a professional retrofit solution
for diesel vehicles, e-troFit provides
a quick entry into electric mobility,
it says. With e-troFit, commercial
vehicles including buses and trucks
can be equipped with eco-friendly
electric drives; it provides diesel
vehicles with an environmentally
friendly “second life” and makes
an active contribution to reducing
traffic emissions, it advocates.WHAT IS UITP?
UTIP brings together all
public transport stakeholders
and all sustainable transport
modes, it states.
Held this June in 2019 in
Stockholm, Sweden, it will next
be held in Melbourne, Australia, in- UTIP attracts thousands of
key public transport aficionados
worldwide, sharing ideas that
arguably shape related industries
in years to come.
CeTrax can be installed
directly into the existing
vehicle platform without
having to make major
changes to the chassis, axles
or differential.