ZF and Tevva partner on EV regen braking

ZF has collaborated with electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva to develop a regenerative braking system for the UK-based manufacturer’s 7.5t battery-electric truck. The partnership involved integrating ZF's Electronic Brake System (EBS) into Tevva's vehicle to enhance its braking capabilities.
Tevva's engineers worked closely with ZF to meet rigorous testing criteria, fine-tuning the vehicle control unit (VCU) and ensuring compatibility with the EBS. The resulting system enables the recuperation of up to four times more energy compared to a conventional compressed air brake system, thus optimizing the Tevva truck's range. Testing took place at ZF's test track in Jeversen, Germany, encompassing various conditions, gradients, and surface types.
The incorporation of the EBS allows for safe regenerative braking up to 180kW, exceeding the limitations of the traditional air brake system, which was restricted to around 40kW of passive regeneration on safety grounds. The advanced EBS system controls the blending of friction braking with the electric motor, reducing wear and tear on the brakes and providing efficient brake management.
Heiko Eggers, head of EMEA application engineering for braking and ADAS in ZF's Commercial Vehicle Solutions division, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, saying, "Our broad product portfolio and systems competence... enables faster time-to-market for new, innovative market players such as Tevva. Their commitment and agile engineering expertise allowed us to meet our stringent safety requirements and complete our project. We look forward to seeing the first Tevva trucks on the road."
Tevva's Uzair Jilani, lead engineer for drive and brake systems, highlighted the benefits of the adapted braking system, saying, "The system has been adapted for use with our regenerative system; when the brake pedal is pushed, most of the 'braking' is handled by regenerative, meaning that the drive system slows the vehicle down." This double-layered safety approach improves driving efficiency and extends the life of the braking system.
Tevva has already begun mass production of its 7.5t battery-electric vehicle (BEV) at its London facility, with a range of up to 140 miles (227 kilometers) on a single charge. Additionally, the company plans to introduce a 7.5t hydrogen-electric truck with a hydrogen range-extender, extending the vehicle's range to 354 miles.

• Tevva will be exhibiting at this year’s Road Transport Expo, which takes place at Stoneleigh NAEC on June 28-30. It’s FREE to attend, and registrations are now open.

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