Range Energy and ZF Partner to Scale Electric Trailers Across Commercial Fleets
On February 4, 2025, Range Energy (Range), a company revolutionizing the commercial trucking industry with electric-powered trailers, has announced a partnership with global technology leader ZF. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development and adoption of the Range eTrailer System within North America’s commercial trucking sector. ZF’s AxTrax 2 e-axle will be integrated into Range’s eTrailer System to meet key fleet needs, including improved efficiency, reduced emissions, and extended range. The partnership’s goal is to advance the scalable adoption of hybrid and zero-emissions trucking across the industry.
“We believe electrified trailers are a viable solution to help lower emissions for food delivery or transportation of goods, improve fuel economy for combustion engines in the powertrain, extend the range of BEV and electric trucks, reduce exhaust, noise and brake particle pollution, and further improve total cost of ownership. With Range’s market position, the company was a logical trailer partner for the AxTrax 2 e-axle in North America,” said John Hawkins, senior vice president, Commercial Vehicle Solutions, ZF. “Collaborating with Range not only expands the electric mobility applications of our products, it gives us the opportunity to work with an emerging leader offering a smart solution to emissions in a hard-to-abate sector.”
ZF is a market leader in next-generation mobility, with technology that is helping to extend the range of electric vehicles around the world. In addition to providing its electric axle to Range, ZF will play a key role in accelerating Range’s relationships with ecosystem partners, such as component suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for trailers and tractors.
The Range eTrailer System is composed of a modular battery pack, ZF’s AxTrax 2 e-axle, and a smart kingpin that integrates Range’s patented control algorithms. Early tests have shown that the system could deliver projected savings of up to $20,000 per trailer per year and a reduction in emissions of up to 70%, all while leveraging existing equipment and infrastructure.
The AxTrax 2 is a fully integrated axle system with a compact design that maximizes space for batteries, giving manufacturers more flexibility when designing future vehicle concepts. It is synchronized with key vehicle functions, including braking, ADAS, and automated driving systems, which improves vehicle safety and efficiency. Additionally, AxTrax 2 enables advanced digital and telematics systems through CAN bus, allowing for seamless communication and data sharing with the e-axle system.
“Time is of the essence to get solutions into the hands of commercial fleet owners and operators to ensure smooth and consistent operations as their fleets evolve to address emissions reduction targets. Partnering with a market leader like ZF in an effort to seize the electric trailer market in commercial trucking is humbling. With ZF, we aim to rapidly advance our platform with tried and tested components, further proving that electric powered trailers can play a critical role in reducing the environmental impact of commercial trucking,” said Ali Javidan, CEO and founder, Range.
News reports suggest initial customer deliveries of Range’s eTrailer System are expected to begin this year, and the company currently has pre-production units deployed in customer pilots in locations across North America.
