TMCnet News

Delphi To Showcase Green Technology at IAA; Supplier to display innovative systems that help reduce the environmental impact of vehicles
[August 31, 2011]

Delphi To Showcase Green Technology at IAA; Supplier to display innovative systems that help reduce the environmental impact of vehicles


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) FRANKFURT -- The theme of next month's IAA International Motor Show is "Future Comes as Standard." At Delphi Automotive, that future is green.

During the show, Delphi will display a wide range of green technologies the company is bringing to market at its booth located in Hall 5.1, stand B06. From vehicle electrification and engine technologies to air conditioning developments and wiring advancements, Delphi's green technology expertise can be applied to every car or truck, including conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles.

"One of Delphi's core values is developing solutions that are environmentally friendly," said Michael Gassen, president, Delphi Europe.

"We are engineering and building green products that consumers and automakers want on their vehicles. This includes technology for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as those that lessen the environmental impact of traditionally powered vehicles." Reducing emissions Improvements that will have strong impact on environmental friendliness can be made under the hood. Delphi's groundbreaking work with diesel and gas engines has led to a portfolio of products that reduce CO 2 and NOx and will help automakers meet upcoming stringent global emissions regulations.


Delphi's high pressure SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) dosing system and ammonia sensor will help diesel vehicle manufacturers meet stricter NOx requirements such as EU6, Tier 2 bin 5 while allowing further reductions in CO 2 emissions and minimizing overall system cost. The SCR system injects aqueous urea solution into the exhaust system as a means of generating ammonia gas, which is used to reduce nitrous oxides in the SCR catalyst and enables improved fuel efficiency of the engine. Delphi's ammonia sensor can be used to ensure optimum injection flow of urea for best NOx conversion efficiencies, while minimizing ammonia slip. Delphi's ammonia sensor potentially allows the SCR catalyst size to be reduced and reduces the amount of urea carried on the vehicle. Delphi's SCR dosing system will enter production in 2014, while the ammonia sensor will be introduced next year.

For gas engines, technology improvements can bring about substantial gains in combustion efficiency and result in cleaner engine-out emissions requiring less aftertreatment. One of the most promising technologies in this area is gasoline direct injection, but this strategy presents significant challenges for the ignition system. For stratified charge engines, the fuel mixture concentration close to the spark plug can vary substantially and there is very little time between injection and start of combustion. Delphi's multi-charge ignition technology , which features single coil-per-cylinder control and fires the spark plug multiple times per combustion event, delivers a significant improvement in combustion stability, leading to smoother running and reduced cold-start emissions.

Multi-charge ignition also offers the potential to use increased EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) to improve combustion efficiency and reduce NOx emissions. Delphi multi-charge ignition will be on the roads in 2012.

Increasing fuel economy and vehicle range Traditional air conditioning systems account for up to 5 percent of a vehicle's fuel usage, approximating 28 gallons (106L) each year -- a significant number considering rising fuel prices. Delphi's air conditioning technologies can reduce HVAC system-related fuel usage by up to 50 percent and help increase the range of hybrid and electric vehicles.

Delphi was the first supplier to introduce a variable compressor , which has since evolved into today's high-efficient compact variable air conditioning compressor (CVC). The company continues to develop a portfolio of CVC products focused on improved fuel economy coupled with passenger comfort. Delphi will soon produce a newly redesigned five cylinder CVC that is significantly lighter than its predecessor. With a die-cast aluminum shell, this lightweight, high strength compressor provides improved comfort, fuel economy and dehumidification. Additionally, it is engineered for uninterrupted air conditioning at high engine speeds. Perfect for Europe's popular small cars, Delphi's latest 5CVC will be on the road in 2014.

Delphi engineers are taking steps to further optimize vehicular heating and cooling systems. Since many vehicular trips include only the driver, it is unnecessary to heat and cool the entire passenger cabin. Delphi's new Spot Heating and Cooling System eliminates this waste by providing heating and cooling only to areas of the occupant's body that are most sensitive to temperature. The technique will allow faster thermal comfort, even before the engine is fully warm, increasing consistency across the body and substantially reducing energy consumption. This highly innovative system is expected to enter the market in 2016.

One of the unique characteristics of a hybrid vehicle is that its engine can shut off during a drive cycle -- including while waiting at a stop sign or traffic signal -- to increase fuel efficiency and to reduce emissions. Conventional vehicles use an air conditioning compressor that is belt-driven by the engine. When the engine shuts off, so does the air conditioning system. To help keep passengers comfortable when this happens, Delphi has developed a Phase Change Material (PCM) storage system. A direct replacement for the original equipment evaporator, the system integrates a reservoir of the phase changing material within the air conditioning evaporator. During normal operation, thermal energy is removed from the material which solidifies or freezes. When the vehicle's engine is stopped, the PCM gradually melts, drawing heat from the air to keep passengers cool and comfortable. The system can typically maintain target air temperature at the cabin vents for one to two minutes, keeping occupants comfortable during periods of stop-start driving. The PCM evaporator is expected to enter production during 2014.

Weight reduction enables fuel savings Vehicles have more than a mile of wiring, dozens of computer modules and multiple serial data links. Because of its size and complexity, the electrical/electronic architecture (E/EA) system presents a great opportunity for weight and space savings.

Delphi's Aluminum Cable is one technology that can provide significant weight and space savings. The cable is now in production and will be on the roads in 2012, bringing with it weight reductions of up to 48 percent over traditional copper core cable without sacrificing performance. Since approximately 227 g of aluminum can replace 454 g of copper, about 1.8 kg can be trimmed from a typical vehicle through material substitution in the wiring harness. This weight reduction can directly help increase vehicle fuel economy.

Innovations in materials technology for the cable core and insulation have already allowed a substantial reduction in the size and weight of copper core cable -- from 0.35 mm 2 (22 gauge) thin wall cable to just 0.13 mm (26 gauge) ultra-thin wall cable -- while also improving tensile strength and resistance to pinch and abrasion. Delphi is also the first supplier to market a new electrical center technology that uses micro-fuses for circuit protection to reduce electrical center size and footprint by up to 30 percent.

In 2013, a further step in mass reduction and miniaturization will be available to automakers when Delphi's 0.50 Connection System enters production. Offering weight reduction of up to 60 percent and requiring up to 50 percent less packaging volume compared with a typical 0.64 system, these new connectors are validated to USCAR-2 and crimp to cable as small as 0.05mm    .

Materials reduction can also be experienced in Delphi's entertainment products. Delphi is using its proprietary ultra-light plastic chassis technology to create high-performance systems that weigh less than traditional audio systems. The currently available award-winning plastic composite technology with insert-molded EMC shielding improves structural integrity, can be implemented in fully plastic or hybrid versions and reduces the weight of receivers by up to 70 percent.

Enabling electric and hybrid vehicles Hybrid and electric vehicles offer special opportunities for suppliers to maintain the health of the electrical system, ensure seamless performance and increase range life, and make these green vehicles an affordable choice for consumers.

Hybrid and electric vehicles require inverters to manage power requirements for propulsion. Delphi's high-performance inverter uses patented power silicon packaging to reduce cost, size and weight while increasing overall reliability. The unique packaging eliminates wire bonds, enables higher current and power density, and when combined with double-side cooling, reduces power semiconductor area. The inverter will be in volume production in 2013.

Delphi's Battery Pack Controller calculates state-of-charge, evaluates battery health and determines power available for the vehicle. Using these calculations, it performs cell balancing to maintain cell safety and increase battery life. Delphi's Battery Pack Controller is scalable, AUTOSAR capable, low cost, compatible with multiple cell chemistries and is expected to be in production in 2012.

Power inverters, battery packs and other HEV/EV components create a high-voltage environment that can be dangerous to drivers and service technicians. Delphi's electrical and electronic architecture systems help keep both safe with physical harness protection systems, battery monitoring devices, plug-in charging systems and a series of connection systems that incorporate the shielding, sealing and high-voltage safety interconnects required for high-voltage/high-power applications.

Interviews at IAA Delphi's technical specialists and business leaders will be available for interview at the IAA. Please contact your local Delphi media representative for additional information.

About Delphi Delphi is a leading global supplier of electronics and technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segments. Operating major technical centers, manufacturing sites and customer support facilities in 30 countries, Delphi delivers real-world innovations that make products smarter and safer as well as more powerful and efficient. Connect to innovation at www.delphi.com Forward Looking Statements. This news release, as well as other statements made by Delphi Automotive LLP ("Delphi" or the "Company") contain forward-looking statements that reflect, when made, the Company's current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company's operations and business environment, which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results, express or implied, by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or the Company's strategies or expectations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "potential," "outlook" or "continue," and other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: global economic conditions, including conditions affecting the credit market, the cyclical nature of automotive sales and production; the potential disruptions in the supply of and changes in the competitive environment for raw material integral to our products; the Company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the ability of the Company to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives; the ability of the Company to avoid or continue to operate during a strike, or partial work stoppage or slow down by any of its unionized employees or those of its principal customers, and the ability of the Company to attract and retain customers. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. Delphi disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and/or otherwise. For more information contact: Delphi Marie-Pierre Ygri [email protected] +33 (0)1 49 90 47 52 ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])).

(c) 2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]