Hybrids are finding increasing recognition as automakers seek to develop greener technologies

Leading supplier in the hybrid and elec-tric drive sector, Continental has production-readied a core element of its new hybrid modular assembly well on the way to production readiness. The modular system allows the components to be used flexibly for different power categories and in different installation circumstances at reduced cost and with better quality. The power electronics are the central feature and control both the flow of energy from the engine to the energy accumulator and vice versa from the energy accumulator to the engine.

The latest version of the power electronics was seen on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics at the 2008 Geneva Autosalon. This 4-cylinder diesel-engined concept vehicle, based on the BMW X5 as regards both appearance and engineering, has the power electronics flange-mounted for the first time on the transmission housing, allowing a hitherto unachievably compact configuration. The power electronics - as installed in this BMW concept vehicle - form the core element of state-of-the-art hybrid drive concepts and, using an intelligent combination of internal combustion engine and electromotor can increase driving pleasure and efficiency. The environment, too, benefits noticeably from the CO2 savings. "Ever since the middle of the 1990s, Continental has been developing components such as power electronics, alternators and energy accumulators for hybrid drives. It is the world's only hybrid systems supplier that is not dependent on a particular vehicle manufacturer and has had a mild hybrid in series production since 2003", says Dieter Rogge, President of the Continental Division Powertrain.

With its hybrid assembly, the company is setting new standards for bringing the ecologically beneficial hybrid technology to market even more quickly and at an attractive price. The development engineers at Continental's Electric Drive Systems Center in Nuremberg are already working on the next generation power electronics. This will further reduce the installation space required while increasing the specific power yet again. Overall volume, including the DC/DC converter which represents the interface with the traditional vehicle power supply, will then only take up five litres. The power electronics will fit into the space previously occupied by the alternator, no longer needed in the hybrid vehicle. This will further simplify installation and offer additional cost reduction potential.