LONG BEACH, California—Hino Trucks has selected Allison Transmission as its e-axle development partner for Class 6, 7, and 8 battery-electric trucks.
Hino will integrate Allison’s eGen Power 100D e-axle into their vehicles as the two companies collaborate to build out a product for end users. Start of low-volume production is intended in early 2023.
Just as the Allison 2000 and 3000 Series are the standard transmission offering in the conventional diesel-powered Hino vehicles, the next generation of Allison commercial EV powertrains will power Hino’s BEV trucks, the company explained during ACT Expo.
Hino announced Project Z in October 2020 and has continued collaborating with Allison since then in designing BEV solutions tailored for the North American medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle markets.
As part of the work being undertaken with Hino and other partnerships, Allison also announced the launch of a new e-Axle product that will be added to the eGen Power family—the eGen Power 100S.
The eGen Power 100S incorporates several of the core components offered in the eGen Power 100D, and packages these elements into a lighter and more compact design best suited for Class 6 and 7 vehicles, and in a tandem configuration for Class 8 6x4 vehicles, the company said. Under the terms of the JCA, Hino will be the first global OEM to integrate the eGen Power 100S.
“We are pleased to formalize our collaboration with Allison on the integration of their eGen Power electric axles into Hino’s class 6, 7 and 8 BEV line up,” said Glenn Ellis, SVP of customer experience at Hino Trucks. “It is especially exciting to be the first OEM to integrate the eGen Power 100S into our Class 6 and 7 BEV trucks, representing another critical step in Hino’s Project Z, Path to Zero initiative we announced late last year. Whether our conventional diesel-powered products or our next generation electric propulsion platforms, our mutual customers expect reliable and durable solutions from the Hino and Allison partnership.”
The eGen Power 100S complements the eGen Power 100D and the eGen Power 130D, expanding Allison’s e-Axle portfolio to cover multiple vehicle applications across medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The single and dual motors respectively integrate with a multi-speed transmission, eliminating the need for additional driveshafts and support structures. With each motor capable of delivering continuous power of 28 hp (212 kW) and peak output power of 434 hp (324 kW), the eGen Power 100S, 100D and 130D are among the most power-dense propulsion solutions in their classes. The architecture is tuned for high gradeability and high-top speed to maximize vehicle range and minimize downtime during charging.
Allison’s eGen Power e-Axles are designed to be 100% maintenance-free for the life of the vehicle, reducing downtime and enhancing eGen Power’s total cost of ownership advantage, noted John Coll, SVP marketing, sales and service for Allison Transmission
The eGen Power 100D also integrates a two-speed gearbox within the central housing, enabling the high torque required to get heavy loads moving. The eGen Power 100D is capable of supporting up to a 10.4 tonne or 23,000-lb. gross axle weight rating and includes differential lock functionality.
Additionally, Allison has expanded its dual motor offerings to include the eGen Power 130D, a variant of the 100D, specifically designed for the European and Asia Pacific markets, where many commercial vehicles require a heavier 13 tonne gross axle weight rating. The eGen Power 130D maintains the same core components, performance, and differentiated value as the eGen Power 100D, including the power ratings previously mentioned for the 100D, but with increased axle weight rating capability, the company added.
In further expanding the eGen Power product portfolio, Allison also announced the first single motor variant in the eGen Power series of e-axles, the eGen Power 100S. It leverages core components from the eGen Power 100D such as the motor, inverter, and shifting mechanism in both 4x2 and 6x4 configurations. The 100S uses a single motor to generate 212 kW of continuous power, with a peak power of 324 kW, and 23,500 Nm of torque at the wheels. The 100S offers a 10.4 tonne gross axle weight rating and features a two-speed parallel axis gear architecture
The 100S expands the eGen Power addressable market to include school bus, medium duty, and heavy-duty tractor and straight truck 6x2 and 6x4 applications, including refuse.
“We believe there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to electrification and a variety of products are needed to address the wide range of applications and market segments Allison serves,” Coll said.
