Unlocking the Future: Modular Electrification Revolutionizes Commercial Fleets

The world is witnessing a transformative shift in the transportation landscape, as electric vehicles (EVs) gain unprecedented momentum. This transition is driven by a compelling need to reduce harmful emissions, lower noise pollution, and enhance energy efficiency – particularly in the medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle sector. As fleets embrace the electric era, sustainability and efficiency have become top priorities, making electric propulsion a crucial pathway toward zero emissions. Moreover, the cost savings associated with reduced fuel and maintenance expenses have further fueled the drive toward electrification.

Powering the Future: Modular Electrification Unlocks Efficiency and Flexibility

Streamlining the Electrification Journey

The transition to electric propulsion for commercial fleets is not without its challenges. One of the key hurdles lies in the integration of the electric drive system, which is responsible for generating and distributing power throughout the vehicle. As the electrification era gains momentum, vehicle manufacturers are recognizing the importance of seamless power and propulsion system integration.To ease this complex process, manufacturers are turning to a modular approach that simplifies the power and propulsion technology. By implementing compact, flexible, and modular hardware, they can streamline the otherwise complicated transition, allowing for significant space, weight, and cost savings on the vehicle.

Modular Design: The Key to Customization and Efficiency

Electric drive components, including inverters, converters, motors, energy storage, and system controls, are essential pieces of any hybrid or electric vehicle. Compact power electronics with integrated functionality provide propulsion power to move the vehicle and distribute power for vehicle accessories, such as air conditioning, power steering, and compressors.The modular approach combines these functionalities into fewer units, allowing for significant space, weight, and cost savings. In a consolidated and modular design, separate drive controls are merged into a unified system, enabling different power management functions to come together in a single, compact unit. This approach replaces the traditional distributed components, reducing the size, footprint, and cost of the system solution.

Slice Technology: Customizing Power for Every Need

Imagine a modular unit akin to "slice technology," where each component, or "slice," is roughly the size of a 3-ring binder and responsible for a different function, such as charging, high-voltage connection, and traction to drive the motor. These slices are stacked together in a single unit, further allowing an already compact system to be customized for the vehicle based on specific propulsion and accessory power requirements.This customized approach ensures that space is never wasted, and the manufacturer does not pay for excess or unneeded capabilities. By simplifying the system, the modular design also enhances reliability, ease of installation, and lower maintenance costs, making it an attractive solution for commercial fleets.

Scaling for Power Needs: Flexibility and Adaptability

Simplification starts at the technology level, and that includes using electric drive components that are flexible and scalable, as well as modular and compact. This goal has been at the forefront of BAE Systems' approach to meeting the electrification needs of heavy-duty commercial vehicles.By harnessing its core technology into a revolutionary architecture, BAE Systems has developed a simple, common platform that is flexible enough for multiple vehicle platforms, including fuel cell, battery electric, or hybrid electric systems. This allows for a wide range of solutions to cater to various duty cycles and power requirements, spanning commercial vehicles to mining platforms.The modular design of the electric drive technology enables a common product to scale easily across numerous platforms and applications, reducing the need for additional development efforts. This flexibility and adaptability are crucial in the rapidly evolving landscape of commercial vehicle electrification.

Seamless Integration: Unlocking the Full Potential of Electrification

Transitioning to electric propulsion calls for more than just hardware upgrades. It is essential for the entire process, including integrating, installing, and supporting new technology, to be straightforward for both manufacturers and end users. A fully integrated solution gives customers the confidence that all components within the system will synchronize efficiently when the vehicle reaches the road.With over 25 years of expertise in designing, producing, and servicing electric drive technology, BAE Systems has established a robust network to support the transition of commercial fleets toward zero emissions. Alongside system integration, superior component engineering, and aftermarket support, reliable electric drive technology is critical to help commercial manufacturers reach their electrification goals.