Turntide Axial Flux EDU Debuts at IAA Transportation 2026

Turntide Technologies to Showcase New Electric Drivetrain Systems

Turntide Technologies will showcase its electric drivetrain portfolio at IAA Transportation 2026 on September 14, with the company planning to debut the Turntide Axial Flux EDU, electric power take-off (ePTO), and hybrid systems. The Axial Flux EDU is designed as a modular platform combining a semi-integrated motor, inverter, and differential. Its architecture is positioned as an alternative to radial flux electric drive units, with a focus on higher torque density, reduced package size, lower weight, and serviceability for commercial vehicle applications.

Axial Flux EDU Delivers Higher Torque Density

The Turntide Axial Flux EDU is specified to provide 53% higher torque density than a radial flux EDU while using 58% less size and weighing 37% less. The company says the platform also simplifies gear design and uses a shared cooling system. Independent component serviceability is another feature of the architecture, allowing individual components to be serviced without requiring the entire drive unit to be treated as a single serviceable assembly. These characteristics are intended to support packaging and maintenance requirements in commercial vehicle applications.

Modular Hybrid Systems Cover 55 kW to 1 MW

Turntide Technologies is also presenting hybrid systems intended to give original equipment manufacturers a route toward lower emissions while maintaining a balance among efficiency, range, and performance. The modular axial flux platform can scale from 55 kW to 1 MW and supports both series, or extended-range, hybrid architectures and parallel hybrid architectures. This scalability allows the same underlying motor technology to address different power requirements and drivetrain configurations, depending on the vehicle application and the operating strategy selected by the OEM.

ePTO System Provides Auxiliary Power Without Engine Idling

The Turntide ePTO System extends the axial flux approach to auxiliary power requirements. It combines a torque-dense axial flux motor with power electronics to provide auxiliary power without engine idling. By separating auxiliary power generation from engine operation, the system is intended to support the broader objective of reducing unnecessary engine runtime while retaining the capability to operate vehicle-mounted equipment. Turntide Technologies will present the ePTO alongside the EDU and hybrid systems, giving OEMs a broader view of the company's modular electrification approach.

Electric, Hybrid, and Auxiliary Power Portfolio

Taken together, the products being shown at IAA Transportation 2026 represent a modular strategy spanning fully electric drive hardware, hybrid propulsion, and auxiliary power. The common axial flux architecture is central to that approach, while the 55 kW-to-1 MW scaling range provides flexibility across different applications. The combination of compact dimensions, lower mass, torque density, and serviceability could be particularly relevant where drivetrain packaging and operating efficiency are important. The planned debut gives OEMs an opportunity to evaluate these technologies as part of future vehicle development programs.

Turntide Axial Flux EDU Performance Comparison

The reported specifications highlight the principal differences between the Axial Flux EDU and a conventional radial flux EDU. The comparison focuses on the three quantified characteristics disclosed by Turntide: torque density, physical size, and weight. The company also identifies simplified gear design, shared cooling, and independent component serviceability as architectural features of the modular platform, although those characteristics are not expressed as numerical improvements in the announced specifications.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Turntide’s planned IAA Transportation 2026 showcase could matter to commercial vehicle manufacturers evaluating ways to reduce drivetrain size, weight, and engine-related emissions without giving up required power capability. The reported torque-density and packaging advantages may help OEMs address space and mass constraints, while the 55 kW-to-1 MW platform range could support different vehicle and hybrid configurations. The ePTO approach also broadens the potential application beyond propulsion. The next practical step will be for OEMs to assess how these modular systems fit their specific vehicle architectures, duty cycles, and service requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What technologies will Turntide showcase at IAA Transportation 2026?
The Turntide systems debuting at IAA Transportation 2026 combine electric drive, hybrid propulsion, and auxiliary power technologies on a modular axial flux platform. The Axial Flux EDU integrates a semi-integrated motor, inverter, and differential, while delivering 53% higher torque density, 58% less size, and 37% less weight than a radial flux EDU. Turntide’s hybrid systems scale from 55 kW to 1 MW and support series and parallel architectures. The ePTO System uses an axial flux motor and power electronics to provide auxiliary power without engine idling, targeting more efficient vehicle operation.