[London] Tevva, a leading British electric vehicle manufacturer, has successfully partnered with global Tier 1 supplier ZF to optimize the regenerative braking system of its 7.5t battery-electric truck. Through the integration of ZF's Electronic Brake System (EBS), Tevva's electric trucks achieve enhanced safety and responsiveness by combining regenerative and compressed air brakes.
As the world's largest supplier to the commercial vehicle industry, ZF's Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) specializes in vehicle motion control, integrated safety, automated driving, and electric mobility. Collaborating closely with Tevva, ZF adapted its EBS for deployment in the Tevva 7.5t battery electric vehicle, resulting in a system that recuperates up to four times* more energy compared to conventional compressed air brake systems. This optimization significantly improves the range of Tevva trucks.
Tevva's engineering team successfully met ZF's rigorous testing criteria by fine-tuning the vehicle control unit (VCU) of the electric truck and ensuring compatibility with the EBS. Rigorous testing took place at the ZF test track in Jeversen, Germany, covering various conditions, gradients, and surface types.
The advanced EBS system intelligently blends friction braking with the e-motor, reducing wear and tear on the brakes. By electronically transmitting the driver's deceleration request to all braking system components, the system achieves rapid response time, balanced brake forces, and efficient brake management.
Heiko Eggers, Head of Commercial Vehicle EMEA Application Engineering for Braking and ADAS at ZF, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, "Our broad product portfolio, including ZF's standardized Electronic Braking System, 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."
Uzair Jilani, Lead Engineer, Drive and Brake Systems at Tevva, emphasized the importance of working with ZF and the benefits of the regenerative braking system, stating, "Working with ZF is a crucial step in the momentum we are building as a truck manufacturer. The system has been adapted for use with our regen system; when the brake pedal is pushed, most of the 'braking' is handled by regen, meaning that the drive system slows the vehicle down. This double layer of safety not only improves driving efficiency but also extends the life of the braking system by reducing strain on the hardware."
Tevva's 7.5t battery-electric vehicle (BEV) has recently entered mass production at their London facility. In addition, Tevva plans to introduce a 7.5t hydrogen-electric truck, equipped with a hydrogen range-extender that extends the vehicle's range to 354 miles (570 km). With its 105-kWh battery, the Tevva BEV offers up to 140 miles (227 kilometers) on a single charge, making it ideal for last-mile and urban delivery fleets.
