ZHUCHENG, China, October 7, 2026 — The commercial vehicle axle is getting its gears back. After years of one motor through a fixed ratio, the e-axles detailed this week carry two motors and two, four or six speeds: one ratio cannot give both a 45,000 Nm launch and an efficient cruise.
Two motors are now a production answer. Reported on October 1, BYD's dual-motor parallel-axis e-axle for the 4x2 ETT44 tractor uses two independent oil-cooled hairpin motors, 750 kW peak and about 38,000 Nm at the wheel end, with an 800V silicon-carbide eight-in-one controller and a two-speed reduction replacing the spiral-bevel final drive.
Two speeds are mainstream; four have arrived. Jingyida integrates motor, two-speed reducer and axle at 94.86% peak efficiency, 200/320 kW, 41,400 Nm in 876 kg and a 1.8 million km rating. GreenControl's STEA39000Z-45000Z puts four ratios behind one motor, 71.0/36.3/20.0/10.2, at 150/252 kW and up to 45,000 Nm in 850 kg.
Europe is moving the same way. Volvo's long-range FH Aero Electric mounts two motors and a six-speed gearbox on a 13-tonne drive axle, rated 420 kW or 460 kW. Bosch's fourth-generation rigid e-axle spans 18 to 49 tonnes with silicon-carbide inverters up to 99% efficient and helical gearing, claims 1.5 million km of design life, and runs on battery, fuel-cell or hybrid trucks.
Volume follows the architecture. Hande Axle took six e-axles to IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover. In an interview published October 5, its Wang Zhanchao said first-half axle output rose 17%, new-energy e-axle sales rose 45%, cumulative e-axles passed 250,000 units and exports rose 26%.
What it changes for Yihe Axle. Zhucheng Yihe Axle Co., Ltd. builds front axles and drive axles for commercial vehicles. Multi-speed e-axles shift weight onto gearing, bearings and lubrication: the front axle still carries the load, but the drive axle and e-axle must hold ratio accuracy over a million kilometres.
The takeaway: the 2027 commercial vehicle axle standard is two motors and at least two gears — suppliers without gear durability, ratio accuracy and lubrication control will not qualify for the next front axle, drive axle or e-axle programmes.
