The concept of a flexible modular system of power electronics is being
expanded
Surveys show that one in four Germans is considering buying a car with
hybrid drive
FRANKFURT, Germany and GENEVA, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With its modular
concept for power electronics, Automotive Systems, a division of automotive
supplier Continental AG, creates synergies between hybrid drive systems for
different power classes. This particular component concept will allow the
automotive industry to rapidly bring to market hybrid vehicles of different
sizes and power ratings at an attractive cost. Interest in hybrid drives is
growing not just in North America and Asia, but in Europe as well; one in
four German drivers surveyed recently by Continental in a sample, said they
were considering buying a hybrid car.
Scaleable complete design solutions: one-stop hybrid drive technology
More and more vehicle manufacturers see hybrid drives as the answer to
increasingly stringent emissions legislation world-wide, rising fuel costs
and customer demand for greater vehicle dynamics and comfort while
conserving resources. The demand for hybrid drive systems across a broad
spread of power ratings and also for electric drives in plugin hybrid
vehicles, electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles is growing rapidly.
"With our new component concept, we shall be better equipped than ever
before to satisfy this development. We can meet the widest possible range
of customer specifications with power ratings from 6 to more than 150 kW,"
explained Karlheinz Haupt, Head of Continental Automotive Systems Electric
Drives business unit. Continental Automotive Systems, in cooperation with
its strategic partner, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, is stepping up the
development, production and marketing of hybrid drive systems and
components.
These complete design solutions, scaleable for different vehicle
layouts and sizes, consist of the energy storage unit, energy storage
management and all the electromechanical elements for the various power
classes. Standardizing these components and combining them flexibly
produces quality advantages, shortens car manufacturers' development times
and minimizes the cost of implementing new projects. The benefits of large
production volumes reduce costs still further.
The inverter at the hybrid drive's heart represents the power
electronics
A hybrid drive consists of an electric motor, a high-performance
battery, an additional voltage converter and the power electronics. The
electric motor replaces the starter and the alternator. It acts both as an
electric drive system and as a generator for energy recovery the engine
drag torque mode ("recuperation"). The recovered energy is temporarily
stored in the battery, which then releases it either for subsequent
acceleration (boost) or for purely electrical driving. Following very
positive results, Continental Automotive Systems is concentrating on
lithium-ion technology for the energy storage unit. The additional voltage
converter powers the 14V vehicle power supply. It can either be integrated
into the power electronics or installed separately.
The power electronics are the heart of any hybrid drive, acting as an
inverter, controlling the flow of energy between the electric motor and the
battery. Depending on the voltage level and the current, it is a defining
factor for the performance of the whole system. The special Continental
Automotive Systems power electronics modular system is based on the
company's years of experience as a series production supplier. Solutions
can be provided for high voltage and currents, and components for
applications using less than 60V. Depending on the power generated, the
electronics are either water or air-cooled.
Hybrid system designs: from start-stop to purely electric driving mode
Hybrid systems can be divided up into purely start-stop systems, mild
hybrid systems for additional boost and recuperation, and full hybrid
systems. A purely electric driving mode is also possible with the latter.
In a parallel full hybrid the electric motor may be placed between the
internal combustion engine and the transmission. A second clutch allows the
internal combustion engine to be disconnected in the "electric driving" and
"recuperation" modes. When accelerating, the internal combustion engine and
the electric motor work together.
When braking or decelerating, part of the braking energy is fed back
into the battery ("recuperation"). In addition, the internal combustion
engine can be switched off when decelerating or at a standstill ("automatic
start-stop"). Particularly in urban traffic, where speeding up and slowing
down is often interspersed with long periods of idling, the hybrid drive
demonstrates great savings potential. By positioning the electric motor on
the rear axle for example, the hybrid system can in effect convert an
essentially front-wheel drive vehicle into a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Tangible added value: lower consumption with improved drive dynamics
Fuel consumption savings of 25% and more are possible with the full
hybrid system's start-stop mode, recuperation, brake energy regeneration
and purely electric driving mode. In addition, the combination of internal
combustion engine and electric motor produce significant drive dynamic
benefits. "At typical medium engine speeds, the internal combustion engine
produces high torque, ideally complementing the electric motor which
develops its maximum torque at lower engine speeds. More than 400Nm are
achievable, which corresponds to the power of a good 4-liter gasoline
engine", is how Karlheinz Haupt regards the gain in drive dynamics. These
aspects of the hybrid drive provide the motorist with tangible added value.
Taking both emission and fuel consumption reductions and improved drive
dynamics into account, the overall balance is clearly in favor of the
hybrid drive.
Continental survey in Germany: increasing interest in an affordable
hybrid
"International market studies forecast rapid growth, reaching two
million and more hybrid cars each year after 2012. Together with our
partner ZF Friedrichshafen AG, we shall be part of this boom, because we
can offer one-stop complete design solutions including electric brakes and
software integration," announced Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, chairman of the
Continental Automotive Systems Board and member of the Continental AG
Executive Board. He quoted the results of a representative survey of 1,000
German motorists carried out by tns/infratest for Continental AG at the end
of last year, according to which one in four of those questioned is
considering buying a hybrid car; every other motorist would accept a price
mark-up of a good euro 2,800 if the car had lower fuel consumption and
better acceleration. Dr. Neumann's comment on these figures: "The market is
there and it's growing daily. We are offering the right products at the
right time."
The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of brake
systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical
elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realized sales of euro 14.9 billion. At
present it has a worldwide workforce of around 85,000.
As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive industry,
the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive
know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of driving safety,
embedded telematics and hands-free communication systems, powertrain and
comfort. In 2006 the Division achieved sales of approximately euro 6
billion with a workforce of more than 30,000. Continental Automotive
Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and
chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine
management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan
modules, body and security electronics and also is the industry leader of
embedded telematics and communication systems in vehicles.
SOURCE Continental AG
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CONTACT:
Sue Frederick, +1-248-393-5273, or mobile,
+1-248-790-7277, or sue.frederick@us.contiautomoitve.com, or Jim
Gill, +1-248-393-5210, or mobile, +1-248-882-6309, or
jim.gill@us.contiautomotive.com, both of Continental AG
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