Magna International says it is the largest supplier of OEM parts in North America and the third largest in the world. On top of that, the company’s full-scale assembly branch makes Jaguar Electric I-Pace intersection, contracted to build Fisker Ocean EV crossover and has contracted to build the electric skateboard platform for Ree Automotive. Outfit Canada has a lot of expertise in electric powertrains and has spent the past few years demonstrating the operability of its in-house electric platform according to the EtelligentDrive scorecard. Magna announced its latest platform development at CES, EtelligentForce BEV . drivetrain for light trucks and commercial vehicle. It is presented as a cost-effective way for the manufacturer to convert ICE powertrains to EV powertrains without the need for a redesign of the platform and without the need to change key vehicle specifications such as load capacity and drag Rating.
EtelligentForce swaps a ‘s truck rear beam axle for Magna .’s eBeam electrification unit, capable of being equipped with an ePark lock and a differential electronic lock. If the customer wants to drive a four wheeler, Magna .’s eDrive engine Going on the front axle, this engine has the ability to decouple to save gas and transmit torque better. Maximum system output is 577 hp, the rear eBeam tops out at 335 hp, the front eDrive can provide the rest. The company says the system is designed for “heavy duty trucks”, the truck’s standard suspension and brake Setup doesn’t need to be reworked to accommodate the technology, and units can be customized “to prioritize key performance attributes.”
Note here that while Magna calls for 3/4 ton and one ton trucks, it also says EtelligentForce’s maximum towing rating is 14,500 pounds. That’s an odd weight to fall into, not far above the claimed maximum towing capacity rating of the half-ton pickup from the Big Three, but also missing the maximum towing rating for the 3/4-ton truck, much less than a ton of people at the helm. Magna does not provide any specifications on how large a the battery may be necessary to power the system at a usable daily level, but that extra weight could be involved in targeting this heavy-duty trucks.
It may be a few years before we have all the production details. Magna is setting up a tram center in Troy, Michigan, where a development team will prepare EtelligentForce for its planned 2025 rollout.
