AltDrive Menu
Battery Electric Powertrain Solutions
WHAT IS AltDrive?
AltDrive builds battery-electric and hybrid diesel/electric powertrains, as well as associated systems. Powertrains are destined for OEM use in heavy equipment such as commercial trucks, tractors, excavators, buses, haul trucks, light rail, and mining machines. We also convert diesel machines to hybrid for operators who want to reduce fuel consumption, add power, increase range, extend lifespan, increase precision, and improve operator work conditions among other goals.
Travel farther, with higher power output, and for years longer than any other battery electric powertrain on the marketplace.
MEDATech has been perfecting the AltDrive battery-electric powertrain for more than a decade. As battery-electric and associated technology evolves, our builds and performance metrics keep getting better. The advent of ultra-fast charging, a MEDATech/ABB collaboration, for example, means that industrial machines can work around the clock with very little interruption.
Our secret lies in our ability to build, ruggedize and synchronize the many systems and software that make an industrial battery-electric vehicle work and keep on working flawlessly. We can and do sell all of the parts that make up an AltDrive system; we also provide integration consulting services. Mostly, we build turnkey AltDrive systems for the specific vehicles that OEMs want to electrify, and the duty cycles that they are built to perform.
Select Components
The AltDrive vehicle management unit (VMU) is the main management unit of an AltDrive-equipped vehicle. The vehicle management unit interacts with the traction system and other integrated components. Some of its controller-specific functionalities include:
- Proven torque management algorithms
- Traction battery management
- Powerful embedded diagnosis features
- Redundancy and fault detection
- Thermal management control
- Extensive peripheral monitoring
- Vehicle and charging safety interlocks
- Instrument cluster management
- CAN communication with BMS
Industrial Lithium-ion Batteries are the life force of any electric vehicle (EV). Battery-electric applications that demand more distance, more power and longer life require a technology that can deliver on all these promises. See our article on How to choose the best Li-ion battery to learn more about Li-Ion Technology.
Our industrial Lithium-ion battery solutions:
- Are specially designed for defense & aerospace applications
- Use hybrid-type cells incorporating the advantages of nickel-manganese-colbalt (NMC) and lithium-titanoxid (LTO) chemistries in one cell suitable for extremely volatile and dynamic operational conditions. The high power, energy and safety features allow the cells to be flexibly applied in various applications.
- Extremely Safe: A thermal runaway event is significantly less likely to occur in LTO cells. LTO cells can also be re-operated after an event of an over-discharge. This feature enables the user to operate the battery cells under extreme environmental and operational conditions.
- Modular and scalable systems to meet any industrial application.
Thermal Management Systems – Lithium-Ion batteries operate optimally at 25 degrees Celsius. AltDrive thermal management systems (TMS) cool and heat the batteries so they can operate at their optimal temperature. A verified thermal management system designed and delivered by the AltDrive team allows a vehicle to operate in any condition on or below Earth (not just sunny California). This includes working in harsh environments like underground mining, construction projects at altitude or commercial trucks operating in the snowy North.
Certified Power Electronics – The technological components for electric vehicles are still maturing, so it’s important that you choose your product partners wisely. Much of the offshore product that we see arriving in this industry is still being tested and often does not meet State- and Country-specific regulations for on-highway use. Some of it is frankly dangerous.
MEDATech AltDrive partners with the leaders in e-mobility power electronics. We use only certified and tested equipment that is the product of thousands of hours of bench and field testing.
AltDrive Partners
Chargers and Power Electronics
As one of the world’s largest providers of power conversion and power management solutions, Bel Power Solutions is one of only a few companies with the product breadth to support every step in the refinement of utility-grade AC into the various DC voltages required to power high-availability infrastructure systems at the site, system, and semiconductor levels.
Electric Motors
TM4 builds electric motors suitable for the commercial, automotive, marine, mining, rail, motorsports and recreational vehicle markets. The company’s industrial electric motors contribute to the highest possible energy conversion efficiencies, thanks to its expertise in permanent magnet motors, thermal management, coil winding, outer-rotor topology, and motor and inverter control algorithms.
Electrified Motors
The Electrified team work with some of the world’s largest OEMS. They have achieved a global reach by providing a flexible approach to accessing their out-of-the-box manufacturing technology.
Bosch Rexroth
Bosch Rexroth’s products deliver an end-to-end high-voltage portfolio for off-highway applications, including a full range of electric motor-generators, inverters and accessories, as well as tailored gearboxes, hydraulics and software modules. Bosch Rexroth and MEDATech are collaborating to offer customers access to full-spectrum electrification solutions, from componentry and software to application-specific design, build, and commissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
AltDrive
Yes, we design and deliver diesel battery-electric hybrid powertrain systems for heavy-duty equipment, combining the reliability and range of diesel with the efficiency and emissions reduction of electric power. Our hybrid solutions integrate batteries, electric drive systems, and advanced controls into new or existing platforms, helping reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, increase power and improve performance across variable duty cycles.
AltDrive represents our complete powertrain integration platform within MEDATech’s broader electrification offering. We offer electrification feasibility studies, components, charging infrastructure and specific configurations. AltDrive focuses on bringing all elements together into a single, fully engineered system.
Each AltDrive system is engineered around the specific duty cycle of the equipment. We design the system architecture, power delivery strategy and controls to match how the machine is used—ensuring optimal performance across varying loads and operating conditions. Our on-road mining haul truck, for example, leverages regenerative charging for the uphill 45-kilometre return trip. Full answer:
Yes. AltDrive systems are delivered as complete, integrated solutions. We manage system design, integration, and implementation, providing a turnkey path to electrification that minimizes complexity for the end user. We also provide custom powertrain kits for OEM integration.
Yes. Our team works closely with clients throughout the project—from early-stage concept development through to system integration and validation. This ensures that the final solution is fully aligned with operational requirements and performance expectations.
AltDrive systems have been perfected over more than a decade. They are engineered for heavy-duty use, including mining, construction, and industrial environments. Reliability is achieved through robust system design, integrated controls, and careful component selection to ensure consistent performance in demanding conditions.
We take a system-first approach, ensuring all components—mechanical, electrical, and software—are designed to work together from the outset. This reduces integration risk, improves performance, and ensures the electrified system fits seamlessly within the machine’s existing architecture. If material handling and robotics are required, we do that too.
Controls and software are central to AltDrive. Our vehicle management systems coordinate power delivery, control battery management systems, monitor system performance, and ensure all components operate together efficiently. This integration is what enables consistent performance across varying duty cycles and environments.
We support both OEM platforms and retrofit applications. Whether integrating into a new machine or converting existing diesel equipment, our team delivers complete system integration tailored to the platform and its operational requirements. Learn how we extended equipment life by twinning the diesel motor with a hybrid drivetrain. Learn about one of many OEM wins.Full answer:
Yes. Every AltDrive system is custom-engineered to suit the specific vehicle and application. Our capabilities include system architecture design, component integration, and controls development to ensure the powertrain performs reliably under real operating conditions.
AltDrive systems are suitable for a wide range of heavy-duty equipment including mining machines, construction equipment, on-road and off-road vehicles, agricultural equipment and rail applications. Each system is engineered to match the duty cycle, space constraints, and operational demands of the equipment.
AltDrive is not a collection of components—it is a fully integrated system developed over more than a decade. While many suppliers provide individual batteries or motors, we provide BEV drivetrains, batteries sized to the vehicle’s duty cycle, and all ancillary systems. We design, integrate, and control the entire powertrain to ensure performance, reliability, and seamless operation within the host machine.
AltDrive is our integrated battery-electric and hybrid powertrain platform designed to replace or supplement diesel engines in heavy-duty equipment. Since 2014 MEDATech has been designing and building powertrains in-house, with system-level design, controls integration, and complete vehicle electrification—bringing together motors, batteries, and software into a single, engineered solution tailored to each application.