ZF has introduced a new air compressor for electric commercial vehicles. With the new product named e-comp Scroll, the automotive supplier is targeting manufacturers and operators of trucks and buses with battery-electric, hybrid, or fuel cell drives.
The solution was first presented simultaneously at the ACT Expo in California and Auto Shanghai in China. It was specifically developed for the requirements of electrified drives, ZF states.
In vehicles with combustion engines, compressed air is usually generated by a mechanically driven reciprocating piston compressor. In electric vehicles, however, electrically operated compressors take over this task. The
noise development of a conventional system is problematic, according to the company. In electrically driven vehicles, the operating noise of the compressor is more significant, affecting driving comfort and noise emission.
ZF therefore relies on the principle of the scroll compressor. The e-comp Scroll operates with two interlocking spirals that compress the air. According to the manufacturer, this design results in especially quiet operation for the compressor. In nominal operation at 250 liters per minute, the sound pressure level is said to be only 67 decibels—comparable to the noise level in a large open-plan office.
Additionally, the system is completely oil-free. This not only reduces maintenance effort but also improves comfort and environmental performance.
"With the offering of an oil-free, low-noise, and low-vibration air compression system, we are responding to the technological challenges for electric vehicles," explains Paweł Porczyński, Head of the Chassis Solutions product line in the Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division at ZF.
The new compressor enables efficient air compression with low operating costs. The need for oil lubrication is completely eliminated, simplifying maintenance and disposal. By automatically shutting down between compression cycles, the system additionally saves energy
and reduces noise levels.
The e-comp Scroll achieves a system pressure of up to 12.5 bar. It can operate with variable speed and can be adjusted to different requirements concerning delivery rate, space needs, or noise level. Liquid cooling is also included to maintain the compressed air temperature below 90 degrees Celsius. An integrated inverter completes the system.
With the new air compressor, ZF aims to contribute to the further electrification of commercial vehicles. The company sees the new product as a meaningful addition to its portfolio for emission-free drive in the commercial vehicle sector.
