Press Release
ZF’s Quiet Compressor Creates Noise on Eve of BUS2BUS
- Successful start to Bus2Bus show: e-comp Scroll electric air compressor wins the International busplaner Sustainability Prize 2026
- Oil-free system delivers low-noise, low-vibration air compression for electric commercial vehicles
- High-efficiency, low-TCO: Variable-speed air compressor with 12.5-bar single-stage, low maintenance architecture
Friedrichshafen, Germany. It may be a quiet operator, but ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division’s innovative e-comp Scroll air compressor for electrified commercial vehicles is generating plenty of noise when it comes to industry recognition. Following its Innovation Award win at busworld 2025, the e-comp Scroll has now received the International busplaner Sustainability Prize 2026, presented on the eve of the Bus2Bus trade show in Berlin.
Designed specifically for medium‑ and heavy‑duty hybrid, battery‑electric and fuel‑cell trucks, buses and coaches, the e‑comp Scroll is an oil‑free air compression system that delivers air compression at exceptionally low noise and vibration levels. It works by using the motion of interlocking scrolls to compress air. This minimizes vibration while limiting noise emissions to around 67dB(A) at the nominal operation point of 250 liters per minute, comparable to the noise level in an office environment.
In accepting the award on behalf of ZF, Dominic Rath, Head of Product Group Air Compressor & Electrification, said: “One of the key advantages of electric buses, beyond being zero emissions, is their quiet operation. However this makes other auxiliary systems like the air compressor far more noticeable and potentially disturbing for passengers. The e-comp Scroll solves this problem by adopting the scrolling compression principle to keep noise and vibration down to a minimum, improving passenger comfort.”
“Developing the e‑comp Scroll involved the combination of expertise across key vehicle domains such as electrification, thermal management and system integration to create a solution specifically designed for modern electric commercial vehicle architectures. By transferring and adapting technologies across vehicle domains, we support OEM customers in their transition to electrification while helping reduce the total cost of ownership.”
Designed for Efficiency and Low Total Cost of Ownership
The unit is engineered for high efficiency, including the ability to shut down completely when no compressed air is required. Powered by an integrated electric motor, it compresses air efficiently up to 12.5 bar system pressure in a single stage and is capable of operating at variable speeds to meet application demand. The technology supports a wide range of customer requirements, including system pressure, free air delivery and size.
Designed for easy integration into electric commercial vehicle architectures, the e-comp Scroll is oil free, eliminating oil carryover or leakage. Apart from air filter replacement, the system requires no maintenance, further contributing to the reduction of the total cost of ownership compared to oil lubricated compressors. The system also features an inverter and liquid cooling that maintains the discharge temperature below 90°C.
