In this exclusive feature with T&BB, Dr Marc Osswald from the Voith Group explains the changes made to the company’s DIWA automatic transmission, and states why he believes the DIWA NXT is the ideal bridging technology between diesel and electric.

The 12-metre bus is fitted with a diesel engine which Keyou has converted to run on hydrogen and a “mild-hybrid” transmission with energy recuperation capabilities.

In an exclusive interview with T&BB, Patrick Seidel from the Voith Group explains what makes the ‘Plug & Drive H2 Storage System’ – to be showcased at IAA Transportation between 19-25 September – a unique market offering, and the role played by Voith Composites in developing it.

The following is based on an exclusive interview T&BB conducted with Johannes Ilg, VP Service Sales Management at Voith Turbo, the automotive technology division of the Voith Group.

Voith is developing a hydrogen storage tank, called Carbon4Tank, for vehicle fuelling purposes made from carbon-fibre-reinforced-polymers (CFRP), enabling greater storage capacity without compromising on payload or performance. 

‘Vehicle markets worldwide are seeing governments introduce legislation to fast track the shift in powertrain type from vehicles with traditional combustion engine technology to vehicles powered using zero emission electric drive systems,’ writes Voith Turbo of Heidenheim in a recent press release.

Voith's net carbon output across its facilities is now negative, through increasing use of solar and hydropower and through carbon offsets.

Voith reported an increase of 24% in its order intake and a 4% rise in sales revenue.

Voith will supply the VR 115 CT step-up gear retarder for Ford Otosan's new EcoTorq transmission for commercial vehicles.

Bus and defence vehicle manufacturer, Otokar, based in Sakarya, Turkey, has launched the new 12-metre electric low floor city bus, the e-Kent C. The series production model varies from the prototype electric model first unveiled some two years ago at Stockholm, Sweden.

Alexander Denk, Vice President of Product Management, E-Mobility at Voith, speaks to Truck & Bus Builder about electric drive systems for heavy-duty battery-electric and fuel cell-electric vehicles.

Voith Turbo GmbH has introduced a new medium-duty version of its Voith Electrical Drive System. Suited to various public transport applications for those OEMs and new start-ups shifting or moving into electric mobility, the new medium-duty version, provides up to 260kW output with maximum torque of 2,850Nm.

Alexander Dennis Ltd of Larbert, UK, part of Winnipeg, Canada’s, NFI Group Inc, says its next generation double deck hydrogen bus can deliver a zero-emission range of up to 300 miles (480km).

Ballymena-based Wrightbus has agreed an exclusive partnership with Voith Turbo for supply of the Voith Electrical Drive System for second generation battery-electric and fuel cell buses for Europe.

Voith GmbH and e-truck manufacturer, Orten Electric-Trucks, have entered a strategic partnership to retrofit single deck, double deck and articulated buses, plus light or medium-duty trucks with electric drivelines.

Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA and Swiss investment holding company, PCS Holding AG, have announced an agreement has been signed (April 29, 2020) to acquire a combined 59% of the shares in Traktionssysteme Austria GmbH, a manufacturer of electric motors, generators and transmissions for rail and road vehicles based in Wiener Neudorf, Austria.

Transmission specialist, Voith Turbo, is to equip 500 Euro VI Mercedes-Benz city buses with DIWA.6 automatic transmissions.

Claiming that almost all buses in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, already have Voith transmissions, Anton Khapugin, Voith regional sales director said at Busworld Central Asia in Almaty at the end of June the potential for sales growth in the region for its DIWA transmissions was huge.

Voith Group has established a global platform to bring together all the company’s digital services and business-related information in one location.

Voith Group of Heidenheim, Germany has acquired a 56% majority stake in Swedish IT company, Pilotfish – a major provider of on-board IT systems and applications.