Press Release
Efficiency and Driving Fun of 48 Volt Hybridization
Further Enhanced by eHorizon
 At the IAA 2015 Continental presents an innovative refinement of the 48 V Eco Drive
 Predictive energy management thanks to the electronic horizon (eHorizon) enables
even more efficient driving strategies with additional fuel savings of 2-3 percent
 Anticipatory coasting and recuperation with optimally balanced energy utilization
Regensburg/Frankfurt, July 20, 2015. At the IAA 2015 the international automotive supplier
Continental reinforces its standing as one of the technological drivers for efficient hybridization. In
an independent test in November 2014 done by a German TV station (Vox / auto mobil),
Continental's "48 V Eco Drive" vehicle (Golf VI 1.2 TSI with 48 V technology) showed how it
achieves fuel savings of 21 percent in comparison to the series production model without 48 V
technology (Golf VI 1.2 TSI equipped as standard with a 12 V start/stop system). Now, at the IAA,
Continental is demonstrating even more potential. When the 48 V Eco Drive vehicle is connected
to Continental's eHorizon, the vehicle receives high-resolution road data on the basis of which a
control unit adapts the driving strategy in line with the route, thereby enabling even more energyefficient driving.
"The appeal of connected energy management with the eHorizon is that we can optimize driving
strategies in terms of energy usage thanks to an improved database alone," said Dr. Oliver
Maiwald, Head of Technology & Innovations in Continental's Powertrain Division. "In this way, the
control unit can calculate which combination of unpowered coasting and recuperation leads to
optimal battery charging and, at the same time, minimizes vehicle friction losses." The 48 V Eco
Drive demo vehicle is a series production VW Golf model with a 1.2 l gasoline engine in which the
components of 48 V hybridization have been integrated with only minimal interference in the
architecture. Thanks to eHorizon, not only do the drivers of such vehicles benefit from even lower
fuel consumption but the support from the electric motor also makes the vehicles more agile than
would be possible if equipped with just a consumption-optimized combustion engine. "So the 48 V
Eco Drive makes driving more fun, too," said Maiwald.
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Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, telephone: +49 941 790 61302
-2Switching off the combustion engine for energy-efficient driving
The high level of efficiency achieved by the 48 V Eco Drive demo vehicle is down both to the
recovery of kinetic energy during deceleration (recuperation) and the fact that the combustion
engine is switched off as often as possible. Just this driving strategy – known as "coasting" (the
combustion engine is switched off and disconnected from the powertrain) – reduces fuel
consumption significantly. At the end of this switched-off phase, the 48 V motor restarts the
combustion engine very quietly and in less than 0.2 seconds. The amount of fuel potentially saved
by this hybrid system is governed by which phases of the journey are used for recuperation and
how often the vehicle is permitted to coast with minimal friction losses.
Both intelligent driving strategies are, to a certain degree, in competition with each other. "Since
the kinetic energy of the vehicle can be utilized only once, the choice of driving strategy plays a key
role," continued Maiwald.
In the future, data from the cloud will optimize the driving strategy even further.
In static systems, this decision is made solely on the basis of vehicle data. The vehicle is
connected via the dynamic eHorizon to the backend, which is where it receives the latest data, for
example about upcoming traffic obstacles. "Connecting the energy management system to the
cloud will also enable us to utilize dynamic information on traffic flow and other events on the route
for energy management purposes in the future," explained Ralf Lenninger, Head of Innovation and
Strategy in Continental's Interior Division. On known routes (navigation or route detection by
adaptive algorithms), the Eco Drive control unit can anticipate when the vehicle should ideally
coast and when it should go into recuperation mode. In the applications highlighted, an early signal
is output to drivers telling them to take their foot off the gas pedal because they are approaching a
stop. In this way, the vehicle can coast without power for as long as possible before going into
recuperation mode to avoid the need to deploy the foundation brakes as far as possible. Likewise,
the coasting phase can begin just before a road section with a speed limit. Depending on the
altitude profile of the route as well as any bends, intersections, and traffic signs, this allows the
driving strategy to be adapted to suit the route. "Overall, this reduces fuel consumption by an
additional 2-3 percent," said Maiwald.
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Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, telephone: +49 941 790 61302
-3Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner,
the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe,
comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately
€34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental
currently employs approximately 200,000 people in 53 countries.
The Powertrain division develops and produces efficient system solutions for vehicle powertrains to
optimize fuel consumption. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and diesel injection
systems, engine management and transmission control, including sensors and actuators, exhaust
aftertreatment technologies, fuel supply systems, and components and systems for hybrid and electric
drives. Powertrain employs over 34,500 people worldwide. In 2014, it recorded sales of approximately €6.5
billion.
Contact for journalists
Simone Geldhäuser
External Communications
Continental, Powertrain division
Siemensstr. 12 / 93055 Regensburg
Phone: +49 941 790 61302
E-mail: Simone.Geldhaeuser@continentalcorporation.com
This press release is available in the following languages: German, English
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