ZF highlights e-drive platform product range
June 16, 2025
ZF Group, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, showcased its electrified drive product range at its recent eMobility Tech Day, ahead of the IAA Mobility 2025 passenger car trade fair.
The basis of ZF’s product range is the SELECT e-drive platform, which enables a variety of solutions and includes necessary components such as electric motors, inverters, converters, reduction gears and software. In addition to all-electric drives, another platform offers combustion and hybrid engine solutions for all vehicle classes.
A new feature highlighted by the company was the thermal management system (TherMaS), which was developed by ZF for electric vehicles and is intended to significantly increase the range of electric vehicles through economical air conditioning. Many of the new developments can be seen in the ZF EVselect concept vehicle.
SELECT platform
ZF’s modular SELECT e-drive platform has allowed the company to offer its broad product range at what it has referred to as a high rate of innovation. As part of further development, the company aims to make it compatible, easier and faster to integrate into customer applications. ZF is pursuing the principle of high integration: several hardware and software functions merged into one system, thus saving space, weight, material and cost.
“With the SELECT platform, we are optimally prepared for the complex market requirements of e-mobility. With this focus, combined with our overall vehicle expertise, we offer customers a technologically leading, broad and tailor-made product range,” stated Mathias Miedreich, member of the ZF Board of Management and responsible for the Electrified Powertrain Technology Division. “Our comprehensive range also includes offering attractive drive solutions for highly efficient combustion engines as well as the entire spectrum of electrified drives and constantly developing them further, across all vehicle classes.”
“The SELECT platform enables us to offer tailor-made solutions for all electromobility requirements,” added Dr Otmar Scharrer, Senior Vice President R&D, Electrified Powertrain Technology, ZF. “With the combination of powerful individual components and attractive functions at system level, electric drives can be configured for a wide range of different applications – and with significantly shorter development times.”
Hybrid technology
As hybrid drive solutions remain important in specific markets, ZF is continuing work to advance its product portfolio to meet this demand. At the eMobility Tech Day, the group presented a concept for its eight-speed automatic transmission.
This transmission, known as 8HP evo, is said to offer improved efficiency and performance, as well as more flexibility for various hybrid platforms. ZF went on to highlight its new electric range extender systems and the compact combustion engine, which, in combination with a generator, works to ensure that electrical energy is reliably supplied during the journey when the battery is low.
EVselect concept vehicle
The EVselect concept vehicle displayed at eMobility Tech Day features pre-series versions of electric primary and secondary drives based on the SELECT platform. These are responsible for the rapid propulsion.
Revolutionary thermal management system
In another vehicle displayed at its technology event, ZF featured its new TherMaS thermal management system, noted as being able to air condition the interior just as efficiently as the battery and drive unit.
The use of propane as a refrigerant is said to result in better thermal performance at high and low temperatures, as well as a smaller and lighter system design. In tests, the optimised thermal management and the more efficient use of waste heat from the drivetrain were able to increase the electric range in demanding winter operation by up to 10-30%, even under extreme conditions.
“No matter where in the world people are driving or what energy sources are available, ZF provides the right solutions to ensure a comfortable and relaxed driving experience,” stated Miedreich.
