ZF's e-comp Scroll Wins Sustainability Prize, Brings Quiet Air Compression to Electric Buses
ZF's oil-free e-comp Scroll air compressor, designed for quiet operation in electric commercial vehicles, has won the International busplaner Sustainability Prize 2026.
67 dB(A)
250 liters per minute
12.5 bar
What Happened
The e-comp Scroll, developed by ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions division, is an oil-free air compression system for medium- and heavy-duty hybrid, battery-electric and fuel-cell trucks, buses and coaches. It uses interlocking scrolls to compress air, achieving noise levels around 67dB(A) at 250 liters per minute—comparable to an office environment. The system can shut down when no air is required, operates at variable speeds, and delivers up to 12.5 bar system pressure in a single stage.
“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.”
67 dB(A)decibels
At nominal operation point of 250 liters per minute, comparable to an office environment.
Why this matters
The e-comp Scroll reduces noise and vibration from auxiliary systems in electric buses, improving passenger comfort while lowering total cost of ownership through oil-free, low-maintenance design.
Terms in This Story
- e-comp Scroll
- An oil-free electric air compressor that uses interlocking scrolls to compress air quietly and efficiently.
- oil-free compressor
- A compressor that does not use oil for lubrication, eliminating oil carryover and reducing maintenance.
- total cost of ownership (TCO)
- The total cost of owning and operating a vehicle over its lifetime, including purchase, maintenance, and energy costs.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.