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New Drive For The Sprinter
ZF electrical driveline technology in vans
2004/09/21
The automobile manufacturer DaimlerChrysler will exhibit its prototype of the “Sprinter†with hybrid driveline technology at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2004. The electrical driveline technology in this vehicle comes from ZF Sachs. A 70 kilowatt electric motor operates along with the engine as a complete vehicle drive. In addition to running free of emissions for up to 30 kilometers, it offers even more advantages. Tests reveal a fuel savings potential of 10 to 50 percent depending on the driving cycle.
Modern turbo diesel engines with direct injection have made commercial vehicles cheaper than they ever were before. The next step to reduce fuel consumption and emissions is the hybrid drive – the combination of a diesel engine and an electric motor. The Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), a research facility for American electricity suppliers, calculated that the Mercedes Sprinter with ZF Sachs hybrid technology has a fuel savings potential of 10 to 50 percent, depending on driving cycle, driving strategy, and how the vehicle is used.
Energized
In terms of economy and emissions, a hybrid drive has a whole series of advantages, which more than make up for the expensive second drive unit.
If the hybrid vehicle is equipped with a power charger outlet, it can be charged with electricity from environmentally-friendly sources such as wind, solar, and water power. When decelerating or braking, the electronic control unit switches the electric motor to a generator, which then charges the batteries (recuperation). Thus, the kinetic energy, which is otherwise uselessly transferred to heat by the brakes, is converted to electrical energy and is again available to the vehicle the next time it accelerates.
The electric motor may support the engine in many ways such as when starting up and accelerating (boosting). The vehicle manufacturer can design a smaller and, therefore, more economical engine. Moreover, the electric unit replaces the traditional starter; it starts the engine idling in a split second.
Not least, it is possible to use the drive unit as a generator and therefore charge external electric devices.
Hybrid Technology For The Sprinter
A powerful 70 kW electric motor is in the Mercedes Sprinter that will be introduced at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2004. With this much power, it is strong enough to operate the vehicle by itself. This feature facilitates driving in areas where emission-free and especially quiet drive systems are desired. The battery can run for approx. 30 kilometers when driving on electrical power alone. In this case, the batteries are charged from the public utility network; thus one hears reference to “Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle†(PHEV).
ZF Sachs manufactures electric motors, frequency converters, and control software for the electric motor in the hybrid Sprinter. In the future, the company will deliver a module ready to install, which integrates clutch, actuator technology, and the electric motor, and which the vehicle manufacturer must simply mount between the engine and the transmission.
A permanently energized synchronous unit serves as the electric drive motor. Permanent magnets do not require electricity for field excitement, which increases the efficiency and power density of the engine. The electric unit’s high efficiency of up to 94 percent as well as high low-rpm torque make the synchronous motor a perfect complement to the engine, the power of which unfolds initially at higher rpms. With up to 275 Nm of torque, which is available from a standstill, the electric motor offers enormous power reserves.
ZF, the leading worldwide automotive supplier for Driveline and Chassis Technology with 535,500 employees at 119 locations in 25 countries, achieves roughly one- third of its sales from products which entered volume production only with the last five years. In order to remain successful in future with innovative products, ZF invests well over € 500 million every year in research and development.
Captions:
Photos 1 – 3: The hybrid drive operating modes
1 - Pulse start: Upon closing of the starting clutch, the electric machine boosts up the combustion engine within less than 0.2 seconds time to the correct speed.
2 - Boosting: Upon starting, setting off, and strong acceleration, the electric machine’s torque supports the combustion engine. Thus, at the same level of performance, smaller engines can be used.
3 - Driving electrically: Upon request, the vehicle can be moved without generating noise or exhaust fumes; an application that is ideally suited for pedestrian zone traffic and when moving through halls.
Photos: ZF
Press contact:
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Klaus Hader
Trade Press
Phone: +49 7541 / 77-2332
Fax: +49 7541 / 77-2764
E-mail: [email protected]
For photo material and further press releases visit: www.zf.com/presscenter
Last update: 28.11.05 - Responsible: MZM
New Drive For The Sprinter
ZF electrical driveline technology in vans
2004/09/21
The automobile manufacturer DaimlerChrysler will exhibit its prototype of the “Sprinter†with hybrid driveline technology at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2004. The electrical driveline technology in this vehicle comes from ZF Sachs. A 70 kilowatt electric motor operates along with the engine as a complete vehicle drive. In addition to running free of emissions for up to 30 kilometers, it offers even more advantages. Tests reveal a fuel savings potential of 10 to 50 percent depending on the driving cycle.
Modern turbo diesel engines with direct injection have made commercial vehicles cheaper than they ever were before. The next step to reduce fuel consumption and emissions is the hybrid drive – the combination of a diesel engine and an electric motor. The Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), a research facility for American electricity suppliers, calculated that the Mercedes Sprinter with ZF Sachs hybrid technology has a fuel savings potential of 10 to 50 percent, depending on driving cycle, driving strategy, and how the vehicle is used.
Energized
In terms of economy and emissions, a hybrid drive has a whole series of advantages, which more than make up for the expensive second drive unit.
If the hybrid vehicle is equipped with a power charger outlet, it can be charged with electricity from environmentally-friendly sources such as wind, solar, and water power. When decelerating or braking, the electronic control unit switches the electric motor to a generator, which then charges the batteries (recuperation). Thus, the kinetic energy, which is otherwise uselessly transferred to heat by the brakes, is converted to electrical energy and is again available to the vehicle the next time it accelerates.
The electric motor may support the engine in many ways such as when starting up and accelerating (boosting). The vehicle manufacturer can design a smaller and, therefore, more economical engine. Moreover, the electric unit replaces the traditional starter; it starts the engine idling in a split second.
Not least, it is possible to use the drive unit as a generator and therefore charge external electric devices.
Hybrid Technology For The Sprinter
A powerful 70 kW electric motor is in the Mercedes Sprinter that will be introduced at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2004. With this much power, it is strong enough to operate the vehicle by itself. This feature facilitates driving in areas where emission-free and especially quiet drive systems are desired. The battery can run for approx. 30 kilometers when driving on electrical power alone. In this case, the batteries are charged from the public utility network; thus one hears reference to “Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle†(PHEV).
ZF Sachs manufactures electric motors, frequency converters, and control software for the electric motor in the hybrid Sprinter. In the future, the company will deliver a module ready to install, which integrates clutch, actuator technology, and the electric motor, and which the vehicle manufacturer must simply mount between the engine and the transmission.
A permanently energized synchronous unit serves as the electric drive motor. Permanent magnets do not require electricity for field excitement, which increases the efficiency and power density of the engine. The electric unit’s high efficiency of up to 94 percent as well as high low-rpm torque make the synchronous motor a perfect complement to the engine, the power of which unfolds initially at higher rpms. With up to 275 Nm of torque, which is available from a standstill, the electric motor offers enormous power reserves.
ZF, the leading worldwide automotive supplier for Driveline and Chassis Technology with 535,500 employees at 119 locations in 25 countries, achieves roughly one- third of its sales from products which entered volume production only with the last five years. In order to remain successful in future with innovative products, ZF invests well over € 500 million every year in research and development.
Captions:
Photos 1 – 3: The hybrid drive operating modes
1 - Pulse start: Upon closing of the starting clutch, the electric machine boosts up the combustion engine within less than 0.2 seconds time to the correct speed.
2 - Boosting: Upon starting, setting off, and strong acceleration, the electric machine’s torque supports the combustion engine. Thus, at the same level of performance, smaller engines can be used.
3 - Driving electrically: Upon request, the vehicle can be moved without generating noise or exhaust fumes; an application that is ideally suited for pedestrian zone traffic and when moving through halls.
Photos: ZF
Press contact:
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Klaus Hader
Trade Press
Phone: +49 7541 / 77-2332
Fax: +49 7541 / 77-2764
E-mail: [email protected]
For photo material and further press releases visit: www.zf.com/presscenter
Last update: 28.11.05 - Responsible: MZM