ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division has announced that its new CeTrax lite electric central drive has entered series production.

Designed for light commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, CeTrax lite has a peak performance of 150kW and a torque of 1500Nm. The optimised compact design of CeTrax lite helps maximise space for electric components and batteries. The module is a fully integrated system, housing the electric motor as well as a single-speed transmission stage and power electronics. In addition to its enhanced flexibility, the system offers a light-weight design at around 120kg.

Providing a smart ‘turn-key’ solution to support the needs of light-duty commercial vehicles, ZF’s CeTrax lite technology supports the architectures of conventionally fueled vehicles as well as manufacturers’ electrification strategies.

The technology has already received orders from Asia and the Americas. One of the first customers, Japanese manufacturer Isuzu, will install the drive in its new ELF EV.

“As an electric central drive, CeTrax lite allows our customers to electrify their existing vehicle platforms. This proves our technical approach and further demonstrates the trust customers are placing in our electric solutions,” said Winfried Gründler, head of product line for driveline systems with ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions division.

“Designed for silent, emission-free inner-city and ‘last mile’ freight delivery, CeTrax lite provides leading levels of performance and efficiency. As such it represents an important new milestone in our ‘Next Generation Mobility’ strategy and reinforces our commitment to decarbonisation of the industry,” he said.