Knorr-Bremse: eCubator to Accelerate Development of Electric Commercial Vehicles

The supplier group Knorr-Bremse has announced another strategic step towards electromobility and is consolidating its expertise in the field of e-mobility in a new development unit called eCubator. Up to 60 internal and external experts will work on innovative future solutions at the Munich and Budapest locations. The company is convinced that electromobility will fundamentally change the system requirements of commercial vehicles. The electrification of commercial vehicles and the associated gradual substitution of the internal combustion engine requires an adaptation of the vehicle architecture, from traction to braking, steering, suspension, and damping, as well as the energy supply of the systems.

The company not only has the expertise to integrate new technologies into systems, but also already has the portfolio for the first generation of e-commercial vehicles to support customers in terms of rapid market entry. For the next generations of e-vehicles, the incubator is intended to serve as an agile idea factory for future system integrations in e-vehicles, working with cross-functional teams and flat hierarchies.

“We see the electrification of commercial vehicles as one of the major industrial trends in the commercial vehicle sector, in which we want to participate," said Peter Laier, member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division.

The company is already in talks with potential cooperation partners and is working on a variety of different projects, which will be complemented by further product ideas over the coming months, the company announced further.

Insights from Brake Blending applied

The mentioned portfolio includes, among other things, screw compressors, which are installed particularly in e-buses and also in trucks. Additionally, the company references experiences in brake blending, where the friction brake, the retarder, and another engine brake work together. The braking effect of the electric motor is combined with a friction brake, resulting in optimal braking effect as well as maximum energy recovery, efficiency, and driving safety, as the provider claims.

For the next generations, targeted from around 2025, the focus will be on energy management systems, electromechanical actuators, and extended functions for vehicle stabilization and drive. Additionally, the subsidiary Kiepe Electric is focusing on emission-free public transport with its e-solutions and on the development and installation of complete electric systems. Specific solutions include the Kiepe Traction Inverter (KTI), which is multifunctional for traction and battery charging. The KTI, in turn, supports the Kiepe Fleet Management (KFM) and the Smart Fleet-Charging Management (SFM) energy management system. Also well established worldwide is the continuously developed In-Motion-Charging technology for flexible trolleybus operation.