Power management company Eaton expands its capabilities and resources in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with two grants from the Czech Republic. These grants will fund participation in two innovative mobility projects, including assisting in the design and development of an electrified off-road truck and developing and demonstrating a new power distribution unit and DC/DC converter (200 kW) for hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered trucks.
“We are continuously expanding our electrified vehicle capabilities in EMEA and forming meaningful partnerships with governments and automotive manufacturers and suppliers,” said Dr. Mihai Dorobantu, director of technology planning and government affairs for Eaton’s Mobility Group. “EMEA is an important growth region for electrified vehicles, and we are proud to help pave the way to an emissions-free future.”
One of the grants from the Czech Republic will fund a joint program with Tatra Trucks, a Czech truck manufacturer, to produce an off-road electrified truck prototype called the Battery Electric Tatra Truck with multi-speed transmission. Eaton’s contribution will be integrating its power distribution unit and 4-speed transmission for medium- and heavy-duty electrified vehicles.
“We’re very excited to have been chosen to participate in this important project,” Dorobantu said. “Eaton strives to be at the forefront of innovation for all types of vehicles as the mobility industry continues its transition from internal combustion-powered vehicles to those with electrified drivetrains.”
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The second grant is from the Czech government program DEFACTo for a three-year program to develop and demonstrate a new PDU and DC/DC converter (200 kW) for hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered trucks. In addition, an internal test bench with a fuel-cell system (50 kW) will be set up at the Eaton European Innovation Center to expand and accelerate the company’s capabilities and developments in the field of hydrogen.
“To successfully complete this project, we are establishing a hydrogen fuel cell lab at our European Innovation Center in Prague to test out different fuel cell components, including air and hydrogen control systems, as well as working to integrate a fuel cell in a simulated vehicle or building,” Dorobantu said.
