July 8, 2026
VEDS as trailblazer: Driventic pursues the ongoing development of electric drivetrains for commercial vehicles
HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY. Worldwide, the number of commercial vehicles with electric drivetrains is increasing. This mobility transition is currently being driven primarily by buses – especially in city and regional bus services. For example, almost 100 percent of newly registered city buses in the Netherlands have electric drivetrains meanwhile. In Brazil, the first electrically-powered articulated buses recently went onto the roads. And in Africa, Rwanda and Kenya are among the countries increasingly focusing on the electrification of public transport.
For vehicle and component manufacturers, these developments result in an increasingly attractive market environment. Companies with longstanding expertise in this segment are at an advantage as they can respond to the increasing demand with well-developed and field-proven products. One such company is Driventic, whose VEDS electrical drive concept is in worldwide use in numerous bus applications following its market launch in 2019. “We have already supplied more than 4,000 VEDS solutions to vehicle manufacturers,” says Manuel Calero, Senior Vice President E-Mobility at Driventic.
In real-world use, the VEDS is proving to be a trailblazer: In 2023 and 2024, non-profit organization Zemo Partnership presented four bus models featuring VEDS drivetrains with a “best in class” award for their efficiency: the StreetDeck and GB Kite Electroliner models from Wrightbus, and the Enviro400EV and 100EV from Alexander Dennis.
Driventic recently began manufacturing the next generation of the system, which among other features boasts a motor that has been optimized yet again. Another enhancement to the VEDS 1.5 is the new DIS drive inverter system with integrated drive management unit (DMU). The unit, which weighs just 22 kg, has an automotive-compliant connector system that enables faster installation and easier maintenance.
Expansion into new areas of application
One of the next steps in the development journey is to expand the use of the VEDS to include applications in heavy-duty vehicles. In this segment too, electromobility is continuing to gain in importance. For heavy-duty truck applications, Driventic will launch a system featuring a motor with a combined water and oil cooling system. The company is focusing on a design offering maximum flexibility: “The configuration of the VEDS will allow it to be used in a wide range of vehicle segments,” explains Calero. Moreover, Driventic also plans to electrify applications in the lighter truck classes with the VEDS 2.2, another new generation. The aim of this strategy is to appeal to the global market with as wide a portfolio as possible.
This broad positioning also includes getting involved in the retrofitting segment, i.e., converting used diesel vehicles to an electric drivetrain. Due to the economic and ecological benefits, Calero sees this as an additional option for vehicle operators. Driventic has successfully implemented projects like this in recent years in Germany, for example in buses in Schwäbisch Hall (Baden-Württemberg) or in Tittenkofen (Bavaria), and is working on making such retrofit projects easier to carry out in future.
Expansion of global market presence
For the same reason, Driventic is not focusing exclusively on central drive systems. For example, as soon as May 2026, the company will be launching another product innovation with a US partner. This and similar strategic partnerships are to be further developed in the future. At the same time, plans are in place to develop local production of the VEDS and platforms based on it in China and the USA. “We are a company with German roots. But we serve a global market and want to be a partner that is close to our customers,” Calero explains.
More information on the VEDS and further innovations from Driventic: Live at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover from September 14–20 (Hall 11 / Booth B06).
Contact
Sebastian Busch
Vice President Brand & Communications
Phone +49 7321 746 2052
Highlights at a glance
New generation of system even more efficient with integrated power electronics and maximum flexibility.
Electrical drive solutions for further applications in heavy goods vehicles.
Additional activities in the retrofitting segment and development of international production and supply chains.
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Driventic has been driving the electromobility of commercial vehicles with the VEDS since as early as 2019. With the next generations of the development, the company aims to tap into new applications for the drive system. New manufacturing locations and partnerships in the USA and China are intended to further reinforce Driventic’s global presence.
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Another enhancement to the VEDS 1.5 is the new DIS drive inverter system with integrated drive management unit (DMU).