Major drivetrain company Hendrickson has used the recent ACT Expo in Las Vegas to reveal what it is describing as the next milestone in its strategic partnership with Driventic, with the launch of a new electric drive axle, which extends the collaboration between the companies which was first announced last year.
The new jointly engineered solution which the two companies have launched at the ACT Expo 2026 brings together Hendrickson’s suspension and axle expertise with Driventic’s advanced, energy efficient technologies in what they are describing as “a next-generation platform designed with performance and uptime in mind”.
The result they say is called ELECTRAAX, which they describe as a high-efficiency, lightweight electric drive axle engineered for US Class 6–7 medium-duty truck applications and school bus operations.
The companies said the partnership is focused on helping commercial fleets improve efficiency and to manage total cost of ownership as they move toward zero-emission vehicles.
The joint venture says that the ELECTRAAX is based on Hendrickson’s proven suspension heritage and aligns with its reliable by design philosophy.
It is powered by Driventic, and they say it is built to move what’s next for medium-duty electrification.
The new axle features a fully integrated ePowertrain that combines the axle, single-speed gearbox, motor, and inverter into one system to maximise efficiency.
The companies claim the design helps deliver up to 94 per cent system-level efficiency, which they say can extend vehicle range and reduce energy requirements based on internal testing.
The key advantages of ELECTRAAX include full motor torque regenerative braking, to helping maximizse energy recovery, as well as a single-speed gearbox design, which reduces friction and weight compared to multi-speed gearboxes.
The companies say that in addition to this, a single-speed gearbox provides a smooth ride without shift-quality concerns for pickup-and-delivery duty cycles, while reducing component count to support increased long-term reliability. They claim Driventic’s electric drive system adds an efficient motor with a power-dense inverter to deliver extended peak torque for sustained, consistent power during acceleration, hill climbs, and heavy hauling.
“This collaboration with Driventic reflects Hendrickson’s Reliable by Design philosophy as we help customers transition to zero-emission mobility with solutions grounded in real-world performance,” said the CEO of Hendrickson, Matt Joy.
“By combining the technological expertise of our respective companies, we are developing the next generation of integrated solutions for commercial fleets,” he said.
“Working with Hendrickson allows Driventic to bring our high-efficiency electric capabilities into integrated solutions that meet the practical needs of OEMs and fleets,” said the CEO of Driventic, Dr. Gregor Wiche,
“Together, we are pairing our efficiency-driven, customer-focused mindset with Hendrickson’s industry leadership to deliver innovative solutions that help set a new benchmark in reliability and performance for zero-emission commercial vehicles,” Wiche said.
