ZF drives to power electric commercial vehicles from Ford Trucks and Farizon

Ford Trucks belongs to the Turkish joint venture Ford Otosan. F-Trucks Deutschland GmbH acts as the general importer for Germany. At its IAA Transportation trade fair stand in Hanover, it presents a cross-section of its current vehicle portfolio, including a battery-electric offshoot of the recently presented F-LINE series with a box body and 6×2 axle configuration.

ZF will supply the drive for this electric truck called F-LINE BEV. The company has announced that it will initially deliver the CeTrax 2 dual electric central drive for this new series. ZF will also provide other electric drive variants for future models as part of the agreement. The CeTrax 2 dual offers two hairpin electric motors with 380 kW continuous power and a peak torque of 24,700 Nm. Two 800-volt inverters with SiC technology and a three-speed gearbox are also integrated.

With regard to Ford Trucks, ZF is not just talking about an order, but about a long-term supply agreement for electric mobility technologies. For example, an electrically powered hydraulic steering pump (EPHS) from the ZF range is already part of the fixed scope of delivery. According to an accompanying press release, this is designed to enable “the efficient operation of the commercial vehicle’s hydraulic steering system independent of the vehicle’s drivetrain.”

“With Ford Trucks, we have gained a major international customer for our new e-mobility drive platform. This underlines our leading position in Europe for electric commercial drives,” said Peter Laier, Member of the ZF Board of Management and responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Division. “Ford Trucks’ trust in us shows that we can offer market-leading solutions for e-mobility to support our customers in their transformation towards sustainable transportation solutions.”

Emrah Duman, Ford Trucks Vice President, adds: “Beyond innovative processes, product readiness and competitiveness, a trusted relationship and the highest quality standards are essential for us. Additionally, a well-defined sustainability roadmap is key for our selected suppliers supporting us in our mission to develop best-in-class commercial vehicles that enable sustainable transport solutions. And we are glad that a long-established brand like ZF is one of them. Ford Trucks has always been at the forefront of innovation in the heavy commercial vehicle industry, and this new agreement with ZF further solidifies its mission to lead the shift towards sustainable transport.”

ZF has also announced that it will become a system supplier for electrified vehicles from Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Farizon, which belongs to the Geely Group. Farizon is a manufacturer of electrified commercial vehicles in various weight classes – from vans to various trucks and buses – that has been known primarily in China to date.

Farizon Auto also used the spotlight at the IAA Transportation to name the key markets for its planned global expansion. The company will initially focus on the regions of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Market entry in these regions is planned for 2024 and 2025. As part of these expansion plans, Farizon plans to launch its SuperVAN electric van in selected European markets, including Turkey, Serbia, Spain, Portugal, the UK and countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Mike Fan, CEO of Farizon Auto, emphasises: “Sustainable development has become a global consensus. ZF and Farizon are leaders in their respective fields, and their comprehensive strategic cooperation will provide cleaner, more economical and more efficient solutions for commercial vehicle users in China and around the world, accelerating a new future for zero-carbon road transportation.”

According to ZF manager Laier, the cooperation also demonstrates the commitment of both parties to technological innovation and market development. “As the leading supplier of one-stop-shop solutions to the commercial vehicles industry, ZF is committed to combining technical expertise with flexible and open technology approaches to drive industry innovation and meet the needs of various transportation scenarios.”

press.zf.com (Ford Trucks), press.zf.com (Farizon)