A British specialist in electric vehicle drivetrains will provide advanced technology for a prestigious US Government-backed electric commercial vehicle programme

A range of electric delivery vehicles being developed for the North, Central and South American markets will use a highly integrated 70kW powertrain from UK specialist Zytek. Developed with the support of a $39 million (£23 million) US Government grant, the vehicles will be manufactured by a new joint venture company being established by US truck supplier Navistar and British electric commercial vehicle specialist Modec.

Zytek’s E-Drive provides an ideal basis for EV development as it allows fast integration with new or existing vehicle platforms and is thoroughly proven. A substantial number of units are already in service as part of successful programmes that include Daimler’s smart ed and Modec’s existing range of electric light commercial vehicles. Zytek has also provided technology and integration expertise for General Motors and Chrysler to support production and concept vehicle programmes.

The US Modec / Navistar application will be for a new generation of class 2c-3 vehicles optimised for suburban / urban pick and drop applications. To provide good performance for high productivity combined with excellent hill start capability when fully laden, the new vehicle will use a 70kw, 300Nm version of Zytek’s E-Drive, which is also available in 55kW 120Nm and 55kW 160Nm versions. The grant will help fund the development, validation and deployment of an initial batch of 400 vehicles during 2010. Gross Vehicle Weight will be 12,100lb (5.5 tonnes) and the latest lithium ion batteries will provide a range exceeding 100 miles.

Zytek’s sales and marketing director Steve Tremble believes that electric vehicles present a compelling proposition for stop-start drive cycles. “An EV’s operating characteristics bring far more than zero emissions at the point of deployment,” he says. “A thoroughly engineered vehicle will bring substantial fuel savings, combined with high productivity, near silent operation and very low maintenance costs. E-Drive allows vehicle manufacturers to enter this market quickly with an electric drivetrain that provides the interfaces and functionality required to meet the most demanding technical and customer requirements.”

World-leading expertise
Current production applications for E-Drive range from the highly-regarded smart fourtwo electric city car, through a number of C-segment family saloons and light duty vans, to several categories of heavier commercial vehicle. Low volume vehicle build, typically for fleet trials, is conducted at Zytek, while for higher volumes the company supports assembly at the customer’s vehicle manufacturing facility, with the highly integrated design of E-Drive making it ideal for integration alongside standard models.

As a supplier of engine management systems for internal combustion engines, Zytek is also well-placed to deliver hybrid vehicle programmes and has already worked on a number of vehicles, including two ground-breaking diesel hybrid applications.

www.zytek.co.uk