New Magna eBeam Electric Axles Would Be a Natural Fit for Jeep
Magna eBeam solid axles can turn anything into an EV with a simple swap and no suspension or chassis modifications.
Electrified trucks and SUVs are all the rage these days, and there are no less than half a dozen of them on the way in the next year or two. But one challenge facing automakers is how to make electric trucks and SUVs that retain their on- and off-road capability and don’t sacrifice these things for the sake of electrification. And the new Magna eBeam technology might just be the better way to do it.
The Magna eBeam is essentially just a solid axle with either one of two electric motors fitted in the center. It’s an incredibly simple yet useful idea that’s designed to replace a good old-fashioned front or rear solid axle, and it works on existing vehicles and suspension setups. This means that theoretically speaking, any truck or SUV, such as a Jeep Wrangler, could be converted to electric power quickly and easily.
Perhaps more importantly, the Magna eBeam is designed to be economical, simple, and rugged, without taking away a vehicle’s inherent off-road capability. It’s available in a variety of sizes and configurations and doesn’t require any sort of special suspension, chassis, or brake setup. The eBeam is available in a single or dual-motor configuration with a single- or two-speed transmission and power outputs ranging from 161 to 335 horsepower.
Right now, the eBeam is strictly being made for rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations, but Magna says that it can also produce a front-wheel-drive version as well. Magna did not specify if it is yet in talks with any automaker interested in using its eBeam in a production vehicle, but the idea is simply too genius not to catch on somewhere.
While automakers continue to design electric trucks and SUVs from the ground up, the eBeam seems like a far more economical choice, not to mention one that could get EVs on the road quickly. It would make a ton of sense for an automaker like Jeep, which could simply swap out the front- and rear- axles in the Wrangler, Wagoneer, or any other product in its lineup and instantly have an electric option.
Whether or not it would do such a thing remains to be seen, but we have no doubt Magna’s eBeam axles will wind up in at least a few production vehicles in the near future.
Photos: Magna
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