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With the Electric Vehicle (EV) evolution spreading fast across the globe and no country or organisation wants to be left behind, innovations for the fast-growing electric mobility market are also in the works by many organisations. And as the countdown to the 2017 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show scheduled for September gathers momentum, Continental has disclosed that it would be showcasing examples of new production applications in the field of electrification, while looking ahead to what the near future holds in this respect.
Along with its cutting-edge tyre technologies, Continental is one of the world’s leading electrification pioneers, both in terms of production applications that are already up and running, and of the breadth of its portfolio of solutions. These range from 48V mild hybrid applications to high-voltage powertrains for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Continental’s components have reached a high level of production maturity and are used among other applications for high-performance high-voltage powertrain modules. With their compact dimensions and low weight, these modules set new benchmarks in terms of power density. Elsewhere, some of the technologies on show at the recent Continental Tech Show and at the IAA – for example in the field of EV charging technology – are world-first solutions
“The future of mobility is electric,” says José Avila, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President of the Powertrain Division. “We are embracing this transformation with environmentally friendly, electrified and all-electric drive systems, as well as with groundbreaking new charging solutions. Efficiency and everyday practicality are a major focus of all these solutions.”
Continental’s engineers are already developing components to meet the requirements that electric mobility will present going forward for vehicle systems outside the powertrain itself.
“The powertrain is at the heart of the electrification process,” says Dr. Elmar Degenhart, Chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG. “But electric mobility also requires appropriate solutions in many other areas, like engine mounts, brakes, wheels and tyres. Electric mobility is a technology with implications for the entire vehicle. Continental’s extensive cross-divisional expertise provides it with the necessary basis for a holistic understanding of this field.”
48-volt Eco Drive shows the potential of hybridization
48V technology facilitates smart hybrid operating strategies that can be implemented in both petrol and diesel-engined cars. Continental’s 48V technology achieves documented fuel savings of approximately 21 percent in real-world urban driving.
One of the most recent production breakthroughs for electrification came with the launch of 48V diesel hybrid versions of the Scénic and Grand Scénic models from French manufacturer Renault. These models already boast a highly efficient engine and this is now being taken a stage further through their electric drive system from Continental.
Continental will also be presenting a new demonstrator vehicle, the Super Clean Hybrid Diesel, which shows how 48V hybridization and innovative catalytic converter solutions can be used to combine increased efficiency with simultaneous reductions of up to 60 percent in real-world NOx emissions. The initial in-vehicle tests at the Continental Tech Show featured direct emissions monitoring using the Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) to enable fuel consumption to be checked on site.
Innovative high-voltage drive systems
On the all-electric front, innovative solutions from Continental include the highly integrated electric powertrain module, which was specially developed for electrification of the high-volume mid-sized segment of the Chinese car market.
With its compact dimensions (with electric motor, gearbox and power electronics combined in a single unit) this high-voltage drive system for all-electric vehicles or full hybrids is not only lighter but also more powerful than comparable concepts. This also means that it delivers a high level of driving pleasure – a significant factor for the acceptance of electric mobility – to complement its favourable cost. The innovative drive system boasts a high power-to-weight ratio, thanks to an output of up to 150 kW and electric torque of up to 400 Nm, with a mass of just 75 kg.
