Electraax uses fabricated components in place of cast or forged components, enabling custom configurations that benefit OEMs. The e-axle can be built with varying track width, gear train, suspension, and brake options according to a vehicle’s needs.
“We can make it applicable to any different vehicle configuration that we need, any different brake configuration that we need,” Zawacki said. “It integrates all of Hendrickson’s capabilities: our fabrication capabilities, our wheel-end structural technologies—all that together.”
Hendrickson’s first foray into e-axles
Hendrickson already makes front steer axles, liftable axles, auxiliary lift axles, 6x2 dead axles—but never a driven e-axle until now.
“We thought, what better way to get into the driven axle market than with a totally unique product offering through the EV market?” Zawacki said. “This is a place to start … When you look at the EV market in total, Class 8 is still a long way off. It’s happening, but very slowly. The adoption is in the final mile, stop and go—and, we think, in school bus.”
Hendrickson estimates the axle will be production-ready by the end of 2027, targeted towards OEMs. Zawacki said that the supplier is already in undisclosed talks with OEMs about the product.
