Pressemitteilu
Press Release
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Continental Fuel Pump and Active Gas Pedal
Nominated for 2011 PACE Awards
Devices contribute to better mileage and increased safety – Two innovations by
international automobile supplier reach the finals in the run for celebrated
automotive prize
Frankfurt am Main/Regensburg, November 16, 2010. Two innovations by international
automotive supplier Continental have reached the finals in the race for the 2011 PACE
(Premier Automotive Suppliers Contribution to Excellence) awards bestowed by Automotive
News. Making the cut for the coveted prize are first off, the EC (Electronic Commutation)
demand-regulated, collector-free fuel pumps designed by the Powertrain Division, which cut
down on CO2 emissions. The other front runner is the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal
(AFFP®) from the Chassis & Safety Division. It warns drivers of hazardous situations
immediately, while consuming up to seven percent less fuel. Continental is the first
automotive supplier to bring both of these technologies to market in mass production. The
awards will be presented in Detroit on April 11, 2011.
Demand-regulated pumps help save fuel
Fuel pumps that deliver only as much fuel to the engine as needed save up to 70 percent of
the electrical energy that conventional constant-flow pumps require. Continental has devised
a demand-regulated fuel-flow system consisting of an electronic control and an electronic
commutation pump. Electronic communication (EC) replaces mechanical coil commutation,
meaning it dispenses with conventional carbon-collector commutation. The pump is housed
in the fuel tank and is suited for use with gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Among its
many advantages, the robust fuel pump’s electronic controls make it possible to switch to
low-wear, brushless motors, thus increasing service life. The design also consumes up to 70
percent less energy than conventional pumps with constant flow.
An increase in the efficiency of the new EC motor permits energy savings of up to 10 percent
over systems that employ conventional direct-current motors. Switching to EC technology
also results in a 0.3 gram CO2 reduction for gasoline, and 0.5 gram reduction for diesel
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Contact:
Simone Geldhaeuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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engines. Emissions even drop to 2 grams of CO2 per kilometer in comparison to constantflow pumps, a considerable reduction in view of strict limits that make every gram of carbon
dioxide emission count. “The electronic controls on demand-regulated fuel feed offer still
more advantages,” says Dr. Markus Distelhoff, head of Fuel Supply at Continental’s
Powertrain Division. Among them are the fuel pump’s reliability, heightened flexibility for use
with a wide array of fuels including bio-ethanol (E100), and an electronic network that permits
the use of vehicle and engine data to drive the fuel pump, depending on the operating
situation. Additional options include non-contact sensor techniques to gauge fuel level, a
pump able to diagnose itself and an economical solution to leaks built into the electronic
controls.
AFFP® warns drivers and indicates the ideal shift point
Continental’s Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP®) is the world’s first interactive gas
pedal. It is able to warn drivers of impending dangers and it can assist them in driving in the
most economical manner possible. “AFFP® provides feedback directly to the driver’s foot,
either by means of a slight double twitch or pressure. Tests have shown that drivers perceive
these signals much better than warning lights or acoustical signals,” says Peter Laier, head
of Chassis Components in Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division. This connection between
driver and vehicle, known as a Human Machine Interface (HMI), can signal drivers when the
ideal shift point has been attained, allowing fuel savings of over seven percent. At the
mechanical heart of the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal is an electric motor connected
directly to the gas pedal, capable of generating feedback in the form of resistance.
Automobile manufacturers can employ AFFP® in whichever way they want, choosing from a
variety of signals and pedal intensities. AFFP® may be installed in any kind of vehicle, is
suitable for either suspended or floor-mounted pedals, and is also suitable for use in
commercial vehicles.
Continental a multiple PACE-Award recipient
The winners will be feted in Detroit on April 11, 2011. The trade publication Automotive News
originated the awards, presenting them for the first time in 1994. PACE stands for Premier
Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence. The PACE awards honor the efforts of
automotive suppliers to meet the challenge of steadily mounting quality demands on the part
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Contact:
Simone Geldhaeuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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of manufacturers and customers. The award sets standards for innovation and quality and is
one of the most coveted distinctions among automotive suppliers. Continental has been a
multiple recipient in years past, most recently cited for its intelligent nitrous oxide (NOx)
sensor in 2010. The company won the prize in 2008 for its direct gasoline-injection system
while 2005 saw awards for the color heads-up display for passenger cars and the costcutting manufacturing process for Deka VII injector nozzles. The Piezo common-rail injection
system for diesels received a PACE award in 2003 while the convenient Keyless Go locking
system took the honors in 2000.
With targeted annual sales of €25 billion for 2010, Continental is among the leading automotive
suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and
chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers,
Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a
competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs
approximately 146,000 in 46 countries.
The Automotive Group with its three divisions Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €4.4 billion
in 2009, 27,000 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €3.4 billion in 2009, 24,000
employees) and Interior (sales of approximately €4.4 billion in 2009, 27,000 employees) achieved
sales of approximately €12 billion in 2009. The Automotive Group is present in more than 130
locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it develops and
produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which cars provide
individual mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental responsibility and
cost-efficiency.
The Chassis & Safety Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and -sensorics, washer
systems and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and
passive driving safety into ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division integrates innovative and efficient
system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and
diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators,
as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid and electric drives. Information
management is at the very heart of the Interior Division, which provides a range of products that
includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic car-entry systems,
tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control systems,
telematics solutions and cockpit modules and systems.
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Contact:
Simone Geldhaeuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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For further information and questions, please contact:
Simone Geldhäuser
External Communication
Continental
Powertrain Division
Siemensstr. 12
93055 Regensburg
Telephone: +49 941 790-61302
Fax: +49 941 790-99 61302
E-mail: simone.geldhaeuser@continentalcorporation.com
www.continental-automotive.de
Contact:
Simone Geldhaeuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
Nicole Geissler
External Communication
Continental
Chassis & Safety Division
Guerickestrasse 7
60488 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49 69 7603-8492
Fax: +49 69 7603-3945
E-mail: nicole.geissler@continental-corporation.com
www.continental-corporation.com