industry update
Ford Australia supplier ZF wins top award
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ngineering specialist company ZF has received a Gold award at the recent Ford World Excellence Awards held in Michigan, USA, for the superior quality, delivery and cost performance of ZF automatic transmissions supplied to Ford Australia. ZF is primarily known for its design, research and development, and manufacturing activities in the automotive industry. It is a worldwide supplier of driveline and chassis technology for cars and commercial vehicles, along with specialist plant equipment such as construction equipment. It is also involved in rail, marine, defense and aviation industries, as well as general industrial applications. ZF is headquartered in Germany and has 121 production locations in 27 countries with approximately 71,500 employees. ZF was one of just twelve recipients of a Gold award at the annual ceremony, where Ford honours its production and non-production global suppliers,
presenting Gold, Silver and Recognition of Achievement awards to sixty-two suppliers overall. The award acknowledges the ZF six-speed automatic transmission, which is fitted across the Ford Territory and Falcon ranges. "We are very pleased that ZF has been acknowledged with this award for our product offered to Ford Australia," said Chris Adcock, Managing Director, ZF Services Australia. "This is a great achievement and confirms the good relationship between Ford and ZF, while recognising the hard work that our local team have put in over time," he adds. Ford is one of ZF's most important customers in Australia. ZF provides a team of Product Support Engineers based in Melbourne in order to provide comprehensive technical support to Ford, both during the assembly process as well as during the warranty period. Further, ZF Services Australia offers a comprehensive aftersales service for all ZF produced transmissions found in Australian sold vehicles. This service extends to a nationwide network of spare parts and service providers.
Viewed from underneath, the powertrain is mounted between the rear wheels. Replacing the fuel tank in the standard car is the power electronics module which includes the motor inverter and high voltage battery connector (cover plate removed).
EV Commodores in agency trial
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he Australian Government’s Department of Finance and Deregulation agency, COMCAR, has procured an electric Holden Commodore into its fleet for trial. COMCAR is the first Australian fleet to trial an Australian fully electric car with battery switch technology, according to a release from the Special Minister of State. The release said the project is designed to demonstrate technical viability for a large electric car. This will include developing electric vehicle engineering skills and components within the Australian automotive industry. COMCAR will consider the viability of introducing electric vehicles into its fleet as older vehicles are decommissioned following the trial of the zero emissions vehicle. It will evaluate the vehicle across a range of measures including energy efficiency, Green Vehicle Guide rating, passenger comfort,
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EV Engineering developed the electric Commodore, which is capable of switching its depleted battery for a fully charged one. practicality and luggage capacity. Special Minister of State, Gary Gray said a two-week trial “around the clock” will help COMCAR determine the suitability of electric cars for its 146-car fleet and how these vehicles meet government environmental objectives. “EV Engineering is building seven proof-ofconcept electric Holden Commodores with the assistance of a $3.5 million grant from the Australian Government’s New Car Plan for Greener Future,” Mr. Gray said. Melbourne-based consortium EV Engineering developed the electric Commodore, which is capable of switching its depleted battery for a fully charged one. This will eliminate long charging times when battery switch infrastructure is available in Australia.