International automotive supplier Continental has developed its ‘48-Volt Eco Drive' system to reduce fuel consumption and emissions even further.
With this new system, the Company claims to have bridged the gap between the reasonably priced 12-volt start-stop systems and the more expensive hybrid solutions with voltages from 110 volts. The new Continental technology will go into production with European car manufacturers for the first time in 2016.
The new hybrid technology can be easily integrated into the architecture of conventional-drive vehicles, yet, at the same time, it provides features that up to now have only been found in high-voltage hybrid systems - such as switching off the combustion engine while driving (‘sailing' and ‘coasting'), extremely quick and comfortable premium engine start-up and efficient brake energy recovery (recuperation).
"Car manufacturers are demanding ‘clean power' solutions at a price in the lower double-digit euro range per gram of CO2 reduction - and our ‘48-Volt Eco Drive' system fits the bill exactly," said Christopher Breitsameter, Head of Business Development & Strategy in the Powertrain Division.
"We assume that the greatest demand for the system will come from the large-volume segments of compact and midsize class vehicles and that Europe will lead the way when it comes to its introduction," Breitsameter adds. According to estimates within the industry, around 20 percent of new vehicles worldwide will have electrified drive systems by 2025 - with around half of these being 48-volt hybrids.
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