The eAxle is an electric drivetrain component that’s key to making an electric powered truck less complex and more productive. By integrating an electric motor, transmission and specialized electronics within a compact unit, the eAxle can directly and efficiently power a truck’s wheels. The Detroit ePowertrain provides two Detroit eAxle designs that can be combined to meet the demands of any job by the eCascadia or eM2 vehicles.

eCARRIER PACKAGING

With the Detroit eAxle’s “eCarrier” design, the elimination of the driveshaft allows more space to package HV battery packs without increasing the truck’s wheel base. Placing the motors at the center of each axle enables the truck to be spec’d with standard wheel ends and all tire options currently available for Freightliner’s diesel platforms. The eAxle’s small footprint on the chassis also enables weight savings for Freightliner’s electric trucks, translating to higher payload capacity.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING

While the HV battery provides power to the eAxle to propel the truck, the eAxles are also designed to recharge the HV battery when the vehicle is decelerating. When regenerative braking is activated, simply removing pressure from the accelerator initiates a process called recuperation, which converts mechanical motion into electrical charge that can be stored in the batteries. With Detroit’s proprietary eAxle design, regenerative braking has been integrated with Freightliner’s MD/HD truck platforms specifically in mind, enabling the powertrain to best leverage this energy-saving feature for the eCascadia and eM2 trucks. Data from the field indicates that once familiarized with the use of regenerative braking, drivers recuperate a significant portion of the battery’s energy throughout the day.

DRIVER CONTROLLED DIFFERENTIAL LOCK (DCDL)

As a carryover feature from Freightliner’s diesel product, the Detroit eAxle will offer a driver-controlled diff-lock, allowing the driver to lock out the drive-axle differential when necessary to regain traction if the truck becomes stuck on wet or icy roads.