Bosch to Offer Micro-Hybrid System in 2006
28 September 2005
|
| Bosch micro-hybrid system |
Bosch, which like Siemens VDO (earlier post) is developing a full family of hybrid drive solutions, plans first production of a micro-hybrid electronic start/stop system for 2006.
The start-stop system, which shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at rest and restarts it when the driver steps on the pedal, has already been selected for use by an unnamed automaker in Europe for introduction on a new model nest year.
A micro-hybrid system provides no assist for propulsion. The Bosch estimates that its Smart Electronic Start/Stop micro-hybrid System can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 8%.
|
| A Bosch hybrid-drive motor |
Bosch is also developing electrical motors for mild and full hybrid drives that can be directly integrated into the powertrain.
The mild drives, with motor output of up to 25 kW, will provide the boost assistance and support regenerative braking for an improvement in fuel consumption of some 15%. The strong or full hybrids will use motors of up to 75 kW (or more) and support all-electric operation for short distances.
Bosch is ramping up its development work for hybrids. The “Project Center Hybrid Systems” had 60 staff at the end of 2004, which will increase to 130 by the end of this year. With support from other Bosch Divisions, that raises the number of employees focused on the hybrids market to some 200.
This stop/start technology should be a priority for all automakers. Even Goshn could probably agree that it makes business sense, apart from just making common sense.
Posted by: Mikhail Capone | 28 September 2005 at 07:30 AM
Would anyone know if there is a system that can be retrofit onto an existing car? The start/stop system is such a simple idea with good payoff. You know, and that's the deal, we can, TODAY, integrate these systems into all cars and save huge amounts of gas -- so, back to the question, how about cars on the road right now??
Posted by: John McConnell | 28 September 2005 at 09:18 AM
John, none that I'm aware of, however the Electrocharger (google for Sigma Automotive Electrocharger; Typepad won't let me post anything that looks like a web link) would probably be your best bet, once it's available.
You'd probably still have to tinker with the car's existing electronics to do a proper stop/start, but at least extra electric-assist would be there.
Posted by: Andrew Plumb | 28 September 2005 at 11:17 AM
The site is www dot sigmaautomotive dot com , and the rest of the link is:
/electrocharger/electrocharger.php
The de-spam system doesn't seem to like URLs at all; I had to munge it pretty badly. Someone fix this, please?
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 28 September 2005 at 07:29 PM
Hmm, this is new. Working with provider.
Posted by: Mike | 28 September 2005 at 08:01 PM
Integrated starter-alternators, supporting start-stop engine operation, have been on all the majors' road maps for many years now. As I understand it, the main thing holding them back has been the ancillary cost and supplier ramp-up issues involved in switching to the 40-volt electrical systems that go with them.
To smoothly start the motor and vehicle when the driver pushes the accelerator, the motor must be considerably more powerful than the relatively wimpy starter motors used in most vehicles today. So they need the 40-volt electrical system. The problem is that there are so many electrical systems and components that have been standardized around 12 volts, that it's impractical to switch everything over to 40v. The electrical system ends up with a number of 40v - 12v downconverters spread around the vehicle. That adds cost and design complications.
It's high time, however, that automakers bit the bullet and made the switch. It would allow them to introduce more efficient electrically driven brakes, AC, water pumps, fans, and power steering. Goodbye fan belts, and good riddance!
Posted by: Roger | 30 September 2005 at 08:32 PM
The idea of retrofitting existing cars with a mild hybrid, or even a start-stop system is a really interesting one.
The existing autofleet is out there already and adding more fuel efficient technology will be key to getting though gas shocks of the future and reducing their CO2 impact until they are finally retired.
Finally imagine being able to have a conventional car you love retrofitted with a hybrid system so it gets 10%-15% better mileage. There are some real classics that could benefit from this technology if it reached a suficient cost relative to gas.
Posted by: Lance Funston | 03 October 2005 at 01:15 AM