Automotive supplier Magna on Wednesday announced an electric powertrain and four-wheel drive system for pickups and light commercial vehicles, which are expected to go into production in 2025.
While several automakers are rolling out electric half-ton pickups, Magna’s solution, called EtelligentForce, is designed for three-quarter ton and larger one-ton vehicles, according to the report. company press release — basically heavy duty trucks.
EtelligentForce is built on Magna’s eBeam, a modular solution that combines an electric motor with a solid girder shaft. The drivetrain components are packed between the truck’s existing frame rails, providing a way to turn the truck into a hybrid truck while maintaining towing capacity.
Magna EtelligentForce
The new system takes things a step further by adding another electric drive unit to the front axle. According to Magna, the front motor can deliver up to 180 kilowatts (241 hp), while the rear eBeam can be tuned for 250 kw to 430 kw (335 hp to 576 hp). , according to Magna.
Magna claims this setup doesn’t require any architectural changes to the vehicle and allows for up to 14,500 pounds of towing capacity — though with the battery pack weighing in at thousands of pounds, we’re not sure the size of the vehicle. one package is allowed in that calculation.
The company does not confirm North American customers, but says it is targeting production starting in 2025. Magna also plans to open a new EV center at its US headquarters in Troy, Michigan, to continued development of the EtelligentForce powertrain and other projects.
Magna e4 technology demonstration (Jaguar I-Pace)
Other projects include upgrading car powertrains, called EtelligentReach, which Magna claims can increase range by 30%. Earlier, the company said EtelligentReach would launch on a “new entry vehicle” this year.
Vendors aren’t afraid to show how they can tweak designs for better performance and range. Both EtelligentReach and another powertrain we sampled in 2020 was demonstrated on the Jaguar I-Pace, also built by the company’s Magna-Steyr division in Austria.
Magna-Steyr is also expected to build Fisker Oceanand Magna is also providing some of the technology for that crossover.
