ZF Coaxial Electric Drive System Wins Two China NEV Projects

ZF Secures Two Chinese Automaker Project Nominations

ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF) announced that its ZF coaxial electric drive system has secured project nominations from two leading Chinese automakers, marking a significant step in the large-scale deployment of its electric drive technologies within China’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market. The nominations strengthen the company’s position in a market undergoing rapid electrification and demonstrate demand for highly integrated electric drive solutions. The development also highlights ZF’s strategy of applying its electric drive technology to major vehicle programs in China, where automakers are expanding their adoption of advanced high-voltage propulsion systems.

800 V System Combines Power and Integration

Developed on the ZF eDrive Platform SELECT, the 800 V version features a highly integrated design that delivers up to 300 kW of power and 5,000 Nm of peak torque. The system can also integrate additional functions, including boost charging, charging and power distribution, and an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD). Its coaxial configuration and magnesium-alloy housing reduce overall volume by 25%, supporting a more compact installation. The architecture is designed to combine multiple propulsion and electrical functions within a single system, potentially simplifying vehicle packaging while maintaining the performance requirements of high-voltage NEV applications.

Efficiency and NVH Improvements Support NEV Deployment

The electric drive system achieves overall system efficiency of more than 93.5%, while its NVH performance is improved by approximately 3 to 5 dB compared with conventional solutions. These characteristics are particularly relevant to premium and high-performance electric vehicles, where efficiency, packaging, acoustic refinement, and driving performance are important system requirements. The project nominations from two leading automakers in China indicate that the technology is moving beyond development toward broader vehicle-program application. For ZF Friedrichshafen AG, the nominations provide a significant opportunity to expand deployment of its electric drive technologies in the Chinese NEV market.

Implications for ZF’s Electric Drive Technology

The nominations represent an important commercial milestone for ZF Friedrichshafen AG as the company advances its integrated electric drive portfolio for China’s growing NEV market. The combination of an 800 V architecture, up to 300 kW of power, 5,000 Nm of peak torque, more than 93.5% system efficiency, and a 25% reduction in overall volume gives the system a broad set of technical attributes for vehicle manufacturers. Its ability to integrate charging, power distribution, and eLSD functions further emphasizes the platform-oriented approach behind the technology and its potential for large-scale deployment across future electric vehicle programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key specifications of ZF’s coaxial electric drive system?
The system is based on the ZF eDrive Platform SELECT and its 800 V version delivers up to 300 kW of power and 5,000 Nm of peak torque. It supports functions including boost charging, charging and power distribution, and an electronic limited-slip differential. The coaxial configuration and magnesium-alloy housing reduce overall volume by 25%. The system achieves more than 93.5% overall efficiency and reduces NVH by approximately 3 to 5 dB compared with conventional solutions. ZF said the system has secured project nominations from two leading Chinese automakers.