Innovations to shape the mobility for tomorrow

2014-04-03 | 000-004-954 DE-EN

SCHAEFFLER AG, BADEN-BADEN

Schaeffler Symposium 2014 in Baden-Baden shows Latest Technologies for Engines, Transmissions, Chassis and Electric Mobility

Innovations to shape the mobility for tomorrow

Schaefflers power of innovation is also demonstrated by its number of registered patents. Schaeffler was the second most innovative company in the official patent statistics of the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) with 2,100 registered new patents in 2013 (ranked fourth in previous year). However, the innovations and technologies taking center stage at the Schaeffler Symposium are more significant than these statistics. Every four years, Schaeffler provides an insight during the Symposium into its latest developments and technologies from the engine, transmission and chassis as well as hybridization and electric mobility sectors. This customer event will be taking place for the tenth time on April 3 and 4 with a record number of 810 engineers and technicians attending from the automotive industry.

Mobility for tomorrow is the central theme of this years event. Schaeffler CTO, Prof. Peter Gutzmer will be discussing the different requirements, which are placed on mobility in different regions of the world. In addition to the companys work in research and development, a comprehensive in-house mobility study also provides a reliable basis for this discussion. There will be a paradigm shift in the automotive industry, says Prof. Peter Gutzmer. Issues such as increasing efficiency and advancing electrification of the powertrain, automatic and semi-automatic driving, as well as integration in information networks will define the automotive future. In addition, the variety of solutions available worldwide will become increasingly more complex, and mobility patterns will also change rapidly. However, this does not mean that cars will drive virtually in the future. Powertrains based on internal combustion engines will still dominate for a very long time and demonstrate new strengths in combination with hybrid drives. Transmissions will also gain in importance as the link between the internal combustion engine and electric motor.

At the Symposium, Schaeffler is offering solutions to questions about the automotive powertrain of the future.

Variable valve train systems, for example, are a central element for increasing the efficiency of modern internal combustion engines. Schaeffler supplies a range of different products tailored to customer requirements through to UniAir, the worlds first fully-variable electrohydraulic valve control system. This system has now been extended by adding additional functions, which support state-of-the-art combustion processes and allow cylinder deactivation without a loss of comfort. CEO Automotive at Schaeffler, Prof. Peter Pleus explains: The volume production start of UniAir technology in 2009 was the beginning of a new era in valve control systems. This fully-variable valve control system set a new technological standard for environmentally-friendly and dynamic engines, and now opens up further optimization potential for our customers by means of its expanded control strategies. In addition to the latest development stage of UniAir, Schaeffler is also presenting its ideas with regard to a rolling cylinder deactivation system and electromechanical camshaft phasing units developed to production readiness at the Symposium.

Schaeffler has products for the increasing number of plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular and for these cars, which are equipped with both internal combustion engines and electric motors, Schaeffler offers customized drive and transmission solutions - whether for sporty vehicles or those driven mainly in cities. Worldwide firsts are a drive integrated into the transmission with power splitting and a range-extender transmission. The latter is a three-speed transmission with an integrated electric motor, which can be combined with internal combustion engines. This clever and cost-effective transmission design facilitates electric-powered, day-to-day driving and the best possible use of the electric and conventional drive, says CEO Automotive at Schaeffler, Norbert Indlekofer. At the same time, we can allay any drivers anxiety about being stuck with a flat battery.

Schaeffler also offers products for automobile manufacturers who would like to extend their existing range of powertrains based on internal combustion engines by offering a plug-in hybrid variant: For example, with an electric axle, which is specifically designed for the requirements of plug-in hybrids. A two-speed transmission is part of the drive element here. The 65-kilowatt electric motor has a significantly increased power density. The weight of the drive unit has been reduced by 41 kilograms compared to the variant in the Schaeffler ACTIVeDRIVE concept vehicle presented in 2011 and now weighs 79 kilograms. The electric axle can also be optionally equipped with a torque vectoring function, which significantly increases vehicle agility.

Increased driving pleasure and savings with 48 Volt

More economical and efficient systems for hybridization can be produced with electric drives based on a 48-volt system voltage. Schaeffler is also presenting different approaches for these systems at the Symposium. The electric drive is mounted on the rear axle, transmission or engine. 48-volt mild hybridization can achieve a fuel saving of approximately fifteen percent by means of recuperation - the recovery of energy during deceleration. In addition, such an entry-level hybridization enables electric-powered driving at low speeds and - depending on the design - also improves driving agility by means of selective torque distribution to individual wheels (so-called torque vectoring). Currently, we are able to produce an electric

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