Bosch Develops E-Axle for Electric cars

In light of growing concern about the toxic emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles, zero and low-emission hybrid and electric vehicles are set to become popular in the future. Some automotive manufacturers like BMW and Tesla have experience when it comes to electric powertrains, but for those who don’t have such expertise, Bosch has come up with a viable alternative. The German automotive supplier has developed the e-axle, which it is positioning as an off-the-shelf powertrain that can be used in electric vehicles for various applications.

Bosch’s mobility solutions chief Dr. Rolf Bulander said the “e-axle” effectively combines the motor, transmission, and power control electronics. The automaker will have to source software and the battery, but the e-axle has everything else.

The e-axle has a power output that can range from 67 to 402 horsepower and can be used in compact cars, sedans, SUVs, and even light trucks. In some applications, Bosch expects the electric powertrain to produce 738 pound-feet of torque. Automakers can also use the e-axle to provide supplementary power for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. It could even be used in future hybrid sports car models as part of a performance application.

The e-axle can serve as a starting point for those automakers who are considering adding electric models or hybrid models to their range as they could save a significant amount when it comes to production costs and could leverage Bosch’s expertise in powertrains for electric and plug-in cars.
Bosch is planning production of the electric powertrain for some time in 2019.