Next stop: E-Mobility - with the new Voith Electrical Drive System
The perfect drive system for changing intra-urban mobility: As an established system supplier with many years of experience and a partner to the bus industry, we have combined our comprehensive know-how in the fields of drive systems and E-Mobility. Voith has developed a pioneering electrical drive system for local public transit. The Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS).
The biggest advantage for our customers is that we offer them the most efficient driveline on the market. The energy consumption of the VEDS is up to 20% lower than that of our competitors. We thereby enable our customers to increase the range of their vehicles. Another advantage is that our system is suitable for all types of commercial vehicles, such as buses, trucks, but also off-road vehicles. Furthermore, it has been developed for battery electric, but also for fuel cell powered vehicles.
Robin Gundel, Product Manager E-Mobility, Voith Turbo
System changeover - with maximum safety ensured through a complete e-drivetrain solution from a single source
The Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) is an electric direct drive system for OEM independent city bus (solo, double deck, school, and articulated buses) and coach applications with both battery-electric and fuel cell electric power sources. It combines a water-cooled permanent magnet motor with an inverter and control software; further auxiliary components are optionally possible. With the integrated system approach of the VEDS, all system components are perfectly aligned with each other. It begins with hardware components such as electric motors, traction inverters and high-voltage distribution systems, and extends to software components such as drive control and energy management.
As a result, the drive system provides a low-weight solution with its compact design, enabling a lower energy consumption during operation and a range increase. Performance is another key factor. With a torque of 3,100 Nm and a power of 310 kW (continous power for 30 minutes) the heavy-duty (HD) direct drive electric motor is suitable for solo buses, heavy articulated or double-deck buses. The medium duty (MD) electric motor shows a torque of 2,850 Nm with an output of 230 kW (continuous power), suitable for medium-duty buses.
Quiet, reliable, and powerful - the innovative e-drive system
VEDS small scope provides the basis components of an e-drive system for different bus applications. It consists of an electric motor, a traction inverter, and corresponding drive management unit.
Voith supplies different electric motors and inverters depending on the customer’s bus application. The customer can choose between the medium duty and heavy duty motor variant.
Besides the small scope of the electric drivetrain (electric motor, inverter, and drive management unit), Voith supplies further auxiliary components.
The VEDS extended scope includes auxiliary components such as auxiliary inverters, cables, power distribution box, charging control unit, and a DCDC converter for fuel cell applications.
Secured control for 7 HV components and DMU incl. CAN Bus
The central benefits of the Voith Electrical Drive System at a glance.
Two motor variants possible: HD or MD
E-Motor
With DCDC converter suitable for fuel cell application
First e-drive system with functional safety conformity (ISO 26262) and isolation class IP6K9K
Customer support over the whole product life cycle
Modular approach with various power levels and high flexibility in the direction of interfaces within VEDS
Best in class efficiency officially approved by independent UK authority
A groundbreaking solution for public transportation vehicles - in use worldwide
About five years ago, Voith unveiled the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS), a groundbreaking solution for public transportation vehicles. Today, numerous manufacturers have already equipped their new electric vehicles with our VEDS. Due to its compact design and high flexibility, our VEDS can be easily integrated into electric vehicles or used to convert conventional or hybrid buses and trucks.
Four bus models, one result: Best-in-class efficiency
The performance of our innovative Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) is proven with the result of best-in-class efficiency in the field. In 2023 as well as in 2024. Certified by the non-profit organization Zemo Partnership for four bus models driven by our VEDS, confirmed by our two strong partners Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis.
VEDS @ Wrightbus (2023)
In 2023, the VEDS-driven GB Kite Electroliner was named the most efficient single-deck battery-electric bus in the UK. And the StreetDeck Electroliner has even set a world record for being the world’s most efficient electric double-deck bus.
StreetDeck Electroliner – 340 kWh
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Best-in-class efficiency 2023 with 0.68 kWh/km certified by Zemo
GB Kite Electroliner – 340 kWh
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Best-in-class efficiency 2023 with 0.66 kWh/km certified by Zemo
Thanks to its use of the heavy-duty version of our VEDS, Alexander Dennis' battery-electric double-decker Enviro400EV has set a new benchmark in 2024. Noteworthy as well is the achievement of the small single-decker Enviro100EV, which has no comparable in the world.
Enviro400EV – 472 kWh
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Best-in-class efficiency 2024 with 0.67 kWh/km certified by Zemo
Enviro100EV – 354 kWh
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Best-in-class efficiency 2024 with 0.54 kWh/km certified by Zemo
Congratulations to our strong partners Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis: With their battery-electric bus models that are driven by our VEDS, they are delivering an officially proven efficiency advantage over competitors' vehicles with comparable battery size.
Developed as a fully electric solution for public transport, the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) effectively combines our extensive know-how in drive manufacturing and E-Mobiltity. In four scenarios, our online demonstrator shows how this holistic approach proves its worth during operation, displaying the key performance values as they change depending on the situation.
Together with strong cooperation partners such as Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH and Pepper Motion GmbH, we are pushing the mobility transition at full speed. That is why the HD version of our VEDS is now also being used as standard in the first H2 truck (FCEV) built in Germany: the Paul Hydrogen Power Truck (PH2P). The energy for the electric drive is generated in a fuel cell.
Maximum performance, efficiency and comfort cell The PH2P truck impresses in series production with maximum performance, efficiency and comfort. Our VEDS is also the first electric drive system for city buses to be certified in accordance with ISO 26262 and therefore meets all functional safety requirements. This is certainly another milestone on the road to the mobility revolution - and of course also in the VEDS success story.
Together with strong cooperation partners such as Voith and Pepper Motion, we are starting the hydrogen truck revolution. By 2030, 45 percent of trucks should be CO2-neutral. That requires people who say: now we're going to drive this forward radically!
Bernhard Wasner, CEO of Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, Germany
