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Dana Partners with JLG to Electrify Industrial Lifts

April 09, 2019 by Scott McMahan

Dana Incorporated reported its collaboration with industrial lift equipment company JLG to develop an advanced Spicer® Electrified™ e-Axle as part of JLG's plan to electrify its industrial lifts. The Spicer Electrified e-Axle has an optimized combination of electrified drive components packaged in a unique configuration that Dana claims reduces power losses by up to 20 percent compared with traditional diesel-powered drivetrains.

Debuted at the Bauma construction trade show in Munich, Dana says that the Spicer Electrified e-Axle illustrates how its investments in research and development, engineering capabilities, and the company's recent acquisitions of adjacent technologies have strengthened its electrification offering.

"As the market continues to shift towards a mix of electrified equipment, JLG is advancing concepts that deliver the same lift performance, maneuverability, work hours, and ease of maintenance offered by diesel power," said Guru Bandekar, global vice president, product management and development, JLG Industries. "Dana offers a comprehensive suite of advanced drive and motion systems for electrification. This axle concept signifies one joint exploration that will help JLG retain its market leadership."

https://youtu.be/BSRNXC4OZj4

The Spicer Electrified e-Axle concept combines several Dana products, including Spicer® axle components and drives as well as motion intelligence, SME® motor and control technologies. The concept also includes gearing in a modular package that can be fine-tuned for vehicle size and performance.

According to Dana, the optimized design of the Spicer Electrified e-Axle concept enhances the mechanical efficiency of the drive system. This improved efficiency enables the use of downsized battery systems while improving noise, vibration, and harsh environment performance and extending the number of working hours and increasing the operating range.

Also, the Spicer Electrified e-Axle concept utilizes Dana's Spicer® intelligent steer system and Spicer® Smart Suite™ Intelligent Load Monitoring System (ILMS).

Spicer Smart Suite ILMS uses the company's patented and proprietary data-collecting technologies throughout the vehicle to prevent tip-over incidents, estimate axle attitude, and supply intelligent calibration management. (see both video and image feature image above).

Dana designed Spicer Smart Suite ILMS to alert the operator of potential tipping situations, reduce the risk of vehicle breakdowns, improve productivity. In turn, these capabilities enhance the long-term serviceability of drive systems.

The Spicer intelligent steer system continuously analyzes real-time vehicle operation to adjust steering angles, thereby improving maneuverability, safety, and productivity, Dana says.

For more than 20 years, Dana has supplied many drive and motion technologies for select JLG aerial work platforms and telehandler models, including axles, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic transmissions, hub drives, slew drives, and driveshafts.

"Dana has made numerous strategic moves that have grown our electrification portfolio exponentially," said Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Technologies. "JLG and Dana share a passion for innovation and a drive toward excellence through electrification."

Spicer Electrified e-Axle Supports Innovative EV Designs

Dana offers vehicle manufacturers a two-pronged approach to hybridization and electrification through electrified drive systems that fit within current vehicle architectures, as well as concepts that support the complete redesign of vehicles from the ground up to maximize performance.

Commitment to Electrification and Hybridization

Over the last two years, Dana has completed a series of transactions to support electrification and hybridization in the off-highway market, including:

  • The acquisition of the power-transmission and fluid power businesses of Brevini, a maker of gearboxes for industrial, construction, and agricultural equipment.
  • The acquisition of a majority stake in TM4, a maker of high-voltage electric motors, power inverters, and control systems;
  • The purchase of the SME Group, a designer and producer of low-voltage motors, inverters, and control systems, and;
  • The acquisition of the Drive Systems segment of the Oerlikon Group, including a majority stake in Ashwoods Electric Motors, a designer and manufacturer of interior permanent magnet motors.

Combined with the company's core expertise in driveline technologies, sealing systems, and thermal management, Dana says that these initiatives position it as the leading supplier of electrification solutions for the off-highway segment.