AURORA, ON—Pickup trucks are one of the hottest segments of the EV market, with many OEMs and startups scrambling to develop new vehicles. To address that trend, Magna International Inc. has developed a new rear axle for electric pickup truck applications. The eBeam technology is scalable, which enables automakers to electrify their trucks without sacrificing utility and functionality.
“eBeam integrates with a battery electric or hybrid power train system and offers a structure-oriented design to support high-payload vehicles, with matching power for continuous-duty usage,” says Tom Rucker, president of Magna Powertrain.
“Designed specifically to transition pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles to hybrid or full battery-electric power train systems, eBeam integrates with existing truck architectures, without requiring unique suspension, chassis or brake systems,” explains Rucker. “This approach presents an economical solution that helps bring new electrified trucks to market more quickly, while also preserving towing and payload capabilities.
“It is a bold endeavor to electrify pickup trucks, whose owners demand the towing and hauling capabilities they are currently used to, and we’ve accomplished it with our eBeam technology,” adds Rucker. “We know axles are core elements of a truck’s strength, and we are excited to have developed the first significant improvement to the solid beam axle in over 100 years.”
With power ranges between 120 and 250 kilowatts, engineers can choose from three variants within Magna’s eBeam family: single-motor, single-speed; single-motor, two-speed; or twin-motor, single-speed, including torque vectoring.
To support electric four-wheel drive applications, Magna also offers several complete power trains that feature an electric drive system at the front of the truck, including advanced software and controls for seamless integration.
