Electronically

Controlled Air
Suspension (ECAS)
Latest innovation in modular and scalable air
suspension solution for commercial vehicles
2 OptiRide™ Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
Latest innovation in modular and scalable air suspension solution for commercial vehicles

ZF’s Latest
Innovation in Air
Suspension Control
The latest evolution of market-leading premium air suspension
technology comes with simplified system layout and increased
integration level. Its lean system architecture significantly reduces
components, while minimizing wiring and piping. The modular
and scalable design provides high flexibility for customization and
can serve complex commercial vehicle applications with a broad
spectrum of proven value-adding functionalities to effectively
support a fleet’s daily operations.

The ZF • Next evolution of ZF’s market-leading premium air suspension technology

comes with simplified system layout and higher integration level

Difference • Modular and scalable design provides high flexibility for customization
and serves even the most complex commercial vehicle applications

• Builds on 35+ years of engineering expertise in the development of

electronically controlled air suspension systems with over 6 million
OptiRide ECAS systems proven in the market globally

Unrivaled
Expertise #1
World market leader for
200,000+
ECAS systems sold
35+
Years of
electronically controlled in 2022 alone experience
air suspension (ECAS)

1986 6,000,000+
First-to-market with ECAS ECAS systems
for commercial vehicles sold worldwide
 3

Value to • Serves a wide range of commercial vehicle applications from standard 4x2
up to complex multi-axle applications

Customers • Simplified system layout enables to reduce components by up to 60 %*

• Fosters lean vehicle system architecture with considerably reduced wiring and piping

• Allows for flexible software updates and functional extensions

• Provides state-of-the-art air suspension control with numerous value-adding,

proven truck- and bus- specific functionalities

• Enables easy implementation of lift axle control with minimized wiring

• Enables easier assembly and installation into the vehicle including a simple
*Calculation based on
6x2 truck application with and smooth end-of-line (EOL) procedure
steel suspended front axle,
air suspended drive axle
and air suspended lift axle. • Complies with cyber security to fulfill regulatory requirements

New Generation

ECAS with cab- ECAS with frame-­ ECAS with Smart

mounted ECU mounted ECU Pneumatic Actuator

New ECAS solution

comes with simplified
system layout and
higher integration
level contributing to
reduced application
efforts for different
vehicle configurations

Technical • Delivers highly scalable and modular innovative system solution

• Integrates electronic control unit, solenoid valves and pressure sensors

Features into one smart pneumatic actuator

• Runs data processing on ECAS actuator, while integrating application

software into domain controller

• Split system intelligence eliminates the need for a separate ECAS electronic
control unit

• ECAS application software architecture is developed in full compliance

with Autosar

• Operates through efficient and smart bi-directional communication via CAN-bus

• Offers direct connection of actuator and height sensor with up to two height
sensors per actuator and axle

• Ensures functional safety according to highest automotive standards

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Smart Pneumatic
Actuator

Remote
Control Unit

Height Sensor

• Comes as smart and scalable module integrating electronic control unit,

solenoid valves and pressure sensors

• Analyzes system data and provides information regarding valve status,

chassis height and bellow pressure

• Connects system and vehicle through smart CAN interface to enable

bi-directional communication

• Controlled by ECAS application software hosted on vehicle’s domain controller

• Adjusts bellow pressure to enable sophisticated chassis height control

• Offers actuator options spanning from one up to three channels to enable

tailored side-specific chassis height and/or lift axle control

• Provides smart and efficient self-configuration process, while eliminating

the need for separate sensor calibration

• High linearity leading to very high measurement precision

• Converts measurement results into electric signals to transmit to

smart pneumatic actuator

• Supports flexible positioning inside the vehicle

• Wired high-end RCU attached to cabin

• Dedicated for ECAS functionality on trucks

• Standardized interface with LIN protocol

• Protected against environmental influences through IP64 protection

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Functional OptiRide ECAS provides a broad spectrum of proven

value-adding functionalities boosting efficiency, safety
Advantages and comfort of daily vehicle operations.

Ride Quality
Minimizes chassis movements to
enable excellent cargo treatment

Traction Help
Mitigates imminent traction-loss through temporary axle
load transfer to support start-upon low friction surfaces

Lift Axle Control

Reduces rolling resistance through load-dependent lifting
of a rear axle to help optimize fuel efficiency and tire life

Fast Loading and Unloading

Adapts chassis height at the loading dock to
different ramp heights

Quick Drop & Hook

Provides rapid and seamless chassis raising and
lowering to ease coupling and uncoupling process

Axle Load Monitoring

Continuously checks axle load and
alerts the driver of overload

Speed-Dependent Driving Levels

Optimizes aerodynamic characteristics through automatic
vehicle height adjustments to help improve fuel efficiency

Heeling
Enables raising of the tractor chassis above ride height
for easy unloading of liquid goods
 For further product details contact your sales representative.
For information about our product portfolio, visit: zf.com/cv
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© ZF Friedrichshafen AG | OptiRide ECAS | 07/2023

About Us ZF is a global technology company supplying systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial
technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF allows vehicles to see, think and act. In the four technology
domains of Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving, and Electric Mobility, ZF offers comprehen-
sive product and software solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility
service providers. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing
emissions, protecting the climate and enhancing safe mobility. With some 165,000 employees worldwide, ZF reported
sales of €43.8 billion in fiscal 2022. The company operates 168 production locations in 32 countries.

ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division is helping shape the future of commercial transportation ecosystems.
Our mission is to be the preferred global technology partner to the commercial vehicle industry. Powerfully combining
ZF’s commercial vehicle systems expertise, extensive technology portfolio and global operations, the division serves
the full commercial vehicle industry value chain. As the automotive industry progresses towards an increasingly auton-
omous, connected, and electrified (ACE) future, ZF’s CVS division innovates, integrates and supplies components and
advanced control systems that help make commercial vehicles and fleets operate more safely and sustainably.
CVS unites ZF’s former Commercial Vehicle Technology and Commercial Vehicle Control Systems divisions, the latter
being formed following ZF’s acquisition of WABCO in Spring 2020.