Drive types in electric commercial vehicles

The choice of the right drive type plays a central role in vehicle procurement, as it significantly influences performance and possible applications.

Front-wheel drive.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is one of the most commonly used drive types in light electric commercial vehicles. The front wheels transmit the driving force to the road.

Advantages:

• Energy efficiency: Front-wheel drive systems are often lighter than other drive types, which reduces energy consumption.
• Cost and space savings: The electric motor, power electronics and drive components are compactly housed in the front of the vehicle. This saves space in the vehicle. This reduces production costs and offers more freedom in body design, especially for vehicles with special bodies or when converting to a double axle.
• Better traction with light vehicles: Due to the weight of the motor on the front axles, front-wheel drive has good traction on dry and paved roads.
• Weight distribution: Due to the installation of the drive components on the front axle, more payload remains for the rear axle.

Disadvantages:

• Reduced performance under heavy loads: Traction can decrease, especially in loaded vehicles where the weight is shifted to the rear axle.
• Difficulties on uneven or slippery terrain: Front-wheel drive is more likely to reach its limits on loose surfaces or in snow, as steering forces also have to be transmitted via the same wheels in addition to driving forces.

Typical areas of application:

• Light commercial vehicles, urban delivery vans, low-floor vehicles or delivery vehicles, which are mainly used in urban environments.

‍Rear-wheel drive.

With rear-wheel drive (RWD), the rear axle transmits the engine's power to the road. This type of drive is particularly popular for commercial vehicles carrying heavy loads.

Advantages:

• Improved traction under high load: As the weight concentrates on the rear axle when loaded, the mechanical grip of the drive wheels increases.
• Greater driving stability: Especially at high speeds or with dynamic driving behavior, rear-wheel drive ensures a stable driving experience.
• Robust construction: Rear-wheel drives are less susceptible to mechanical stress, especially on uneven roads or frequent journeys with high payloads.

Disadvantages:

• Energy consumption: Higher weight and more mechanical components can increase energy consumption.
• Reduced traction with an empty vehicle: If the rear axle bears little weight, the drive wheels can spin faster, especially on slippery surfaces.

‍Typical areas of application:

• Medium to heavy commercial vehicles, vehicles in construction and logistics.

‍All-wheel drive.

All-wheel drive ("4x4", AWD) transmits the drive power to all four wheels of the vehicle, ensuring maximum traction and safety in all conditions (fully loaded, poor weather).

Advantages:

• Optimal traction on all surfaces: Whether mud, snow or sand – all-wheel drive ensures high driving stability and grip.
• High off-road capability: Electric commercial vehicles with all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance are ideal for use off paved roads.
• Safety aspect: The even distribution of power to all wheels reduces the risk of getting stuck or breaking out.
• Flexible load distribution: With two or more electric motors, mechanical components such as differentials and drive shafts are eliminated. This means that the load distribution of the drive axles can be precisely matched to the vehicle on the software side**, whereby** you can freely choose between 0 and 100% per axle. Commonly used splits are 30/70 or 50/50.

Disadvantages:

• Higher costs and weight: The complex technology and additional motors increase production and maintenance costs as well as the vehicle weight.
• Increased energy consumption: Permanent all-wheel drive increases power consumption, which affects the range.

Typical areas of application:

• Vehicles in agriculture, construction, winter services, rescue operations or off-road transport.

Conclusion:

The choice of the right drive type depends on the individual application requirements of the electric commercial vehicle. Each drive type offers specific advantages and at the same time has limitations that should be weighed up depending on the usage scenario:

• Front-wheel drive: Thanks to its high energy efficiency, low costs and compact design, it is particularly suitable for light commercial vehicles and use in urban environments.
• Rear-wheel drive: Thanks to its better traction with high payloads and its robust design, rear-wheel drive is the preferred choice in the construction and logistics sectors.
• All-wheel drive: It offers maximum traction and safety on any terrain and is ideal for demanding environments such as construction sites, rough terrain or winter road conditions. However, the high versatility and off-road capability come with higher costs and increased energy consumption.

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