Schaeffler sets sights on 2025

Schaeffler will show its concept car that meets the 2025 CAFE requirements at next month’s Detroit auto show - NAIAS. The car – named Efficient Future Mobility North America – was developed as part of Schaeffler’s Mobility for Tomorrow strategy. “With the Schaeffler Efficient Future Mobility North America vehicle, we are once again demonstrating how our innovative technologies can make significant improvements in terms of fuel consumption and pollutant emissions,” said Prof. Peter Gutzmer, Chief Technology Officer, Schaeffler. The vehicle is based on a modern, all-wheel-drive, midsize-SUV with automatic transmission. Last year during NAIAS, Schaeffler showed the first phase of the concept car that demonstrated its low-cost strategy to meet CAFE 2020 guidelines. “At NAIAS 2015, we are announcing the second phase of the concept car that includes its mild hybridization with 48 volt” explains Prof. Gutzmer. “In this way, we can achieve the strict requirements of CAFE 2025 with a cost-conscious approach.“ In addition to the 48 volt hybridization, Schaeffler has incorporated other innovations, including: a permanent engaged starter; a four-wheel drive disconnect clutch; a thermal management module; as well as extensive damping and friction reduction measures in the drive train. “With this car, Schaeffler shows the optimization potential that can be achieved through a holistic approach,” noted Jeff Hemphill, chief technical officer, Schaeffler North America. “In this way, Schaeffler is making important contributions to the environmentally friendly mobility of tomorrow.” Additional examples of Schaeffler’s Mobility for Tomorrow strategy include its Formula-E racing car. This car was created for the electrically-operated Monoposto Racing Series and has already raced in Asia and South America. Upcoming performances will be in Miami on March 4 and Long Beach in April 2015. Meanwhile, the 100 millionth dual mass flywheel (DMF) has left the production line at the automotive supplier LuK in Bühl (Germany), part of the Schaeffler Group. This vibration damper has now been manufactured for three decades at three locations: At its headquarters in Bühl since the introduction of the DMF in 1985, in Szombathely, Hungary since 2000 and in Taicang, China since 2007. The DMF allows driving in fuel-efficient operating points with increased auditory comfort, and therefore makes a contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. This was and still is the decisive factor for the market success of a product. The first vehicle on the market with a dual mass flywheel from LuK was the BMW 525e in 1985. The DMF has undergone further continuous development to increase component performance during a continuous period of success lasting 30 years. A significant increase in vibration damping was achieved by integrating a centrifugal pendulum-type absorber. This ground-breaking technology, introduced in 2008, increases the damping capacity in the DMF by adding a further speed-adaptive component. The pendulum replaces the internal damper of a conventional DMF and therefore has almost no effect on the design space. DMFs with centrifugal pendulum-type absorber can be used wherever conventional DMFs were fitted. Together with the basic vibration isolation using the DMF’s spring mass system, the addition achieves isolation levels of more than 90 per cent. As a result, engines can be operated even at low speeds in a smooth and comfortable manner such that the transmission ratio to be made longer and thus designed for greater efficiency in terms of fuel consumption. This applies for both manual and double clutch transmissions.