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Tuesday, 12 April, 2011 10:18 PM

Behr Unveils Latest Electric/Hybrid-Electric Technologies at SAE World Congress

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TROY, Mich. -- Behr America is developing a variety of industry-leading electric and hybrid-electric vehicle technologies as well as a variety of engine-mounted components for downsized engines which are on display at the SAE International World Congress in Detroit, April 12-14th.

Speaking to reporters at the show, Uwe Krueger, vice president of engineering for the company in North America, demonstrated the company's new storage evaporator developed by Behr engineers for vehicles equipped with start-stop systems as well as an innovative Comfort Vent Air Conditioning System. Both have been selected as finalists in the prestigious 2011 Automotive News PACE Awards program.

"The need to improve fuel economy and lower emissions is essential in today's marketplace," said Krueger. "As a leader in automotive air conditioning, engine cooling systems and battery thermal management, we are uniquely positioned to provide the industry with safe, comfortable and ecologically sound thermal management systems."

Storage Evaporator for Vehicles with Start-Stop Systems

Hybrid vehicles are equipped with a start-stop function that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped or idling, reducing emissions and lowering fuel consumption. Some of that fuel conservation is due to the air conditioning compressor being switched off as well. In doing that, however, temperature inside the vehicle rises quickly making it uncomfortable for occupants.

To alleviate that condition, Behr engineers have developed a storage evaporator which helps maintain cabin temperatures and air flow up to 95 per cent of all idle stops in city traffic. The air flowing into the vehicle is adequately cooled by the latent medium, even during vehicle stops.

Comfort Vent Air Conditioning Systems

Behr also has developed the world's first air-conditioning system where driver and passengers have the option of varying not only the direction of the air outflow, but also the type of outflow as well.

"When an occupant chooses the 'spot-flow' option, the airflow is highly concentrated on one point for a maximum cooling effect," said Krueger. "'Diffuse-flow' allows the airflow to spread across a wide area of the vehicle's interior, creating a pleasant, virtually draft-free airflow," he continued. "'Combined-maximum-flow' blends the two basic functions, spot and diffuse-flow, which can be combined as desired, allowing driver and passengers to set their own individual 'feel-good airflow'."

In addition, the system has more cooling power and is quieter when compared to other systems. It also optimizes cabin air quality.

A variety of Behr's engine-mounted components contribute to new environmentally friendly gasoline-and diesel-powered vehicles with significantly improved fuel economy. New charge-air coolers for turbocharged engines and engine-mounted charge-air coolers for gasoline engines enable engineers to downsize engines without compromising power.

Products such as charge air coolers, EGR coolers, exhaust heat-management systems and Visco clutches also provide for fuel efficiency improvements while making vehicles more environmentally sustainable.

Behr's North American headquarters is in Troy, Michigan. Behr America has nearly 2,200 employees at facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

Additional information is available at www.behrgroup.com.

Source: Behr America

Photo credit: Peter Oppenländer / © 2008 Behr GmbH & Co. KG

Behr is also expanding thanks to product innovations that are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and thus fuel consumption as well. In 2008, Behr will be starting high-volume production of new indirect charge air coolers for cars and trucks.

2011 Automotive News PACE Awards are Presented to 11 Suppliers for Outstanding Innovations

DETROIT -- Eleven automotive suppliers won 2011 Automotive News PACE Awards for innovation during a black tie ceremony last night at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Mich. Four automotive manufacturers were also honored during the program with Automotive News PACE Innovation Partnership Awards.

The 17th annual awards program for innovation honor suppliers that contribute products, processes, capital equipment, information technology or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks worldwide. The prestigious PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Automotive News, Ernst & Young LLP and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.).

Selected from among 35 finalists, the 2011 PACE Award winners are:

• Delphi Automotive – Troy, Mich. - Delphi Multec GDi Fuel Injector
• Federal-Mogul Corporation – Nuremberg, Germany and Southfield, Mich. - EcoTough® Piston Coating
• Federal-Mogul Corporation – Burscheid, Germany and Southfield, Mich. - Low-Friction LKZ® Oil Ring
• Henkel Corporation – Madison Heights, Mich. - Terophon High Damping Foam
• Honeywell Turbo Technologies – Torrance, Calif. - Honeywell DualBoost Turbocharger for Medium Duty Diesel Engines
• Janesville Acoustics – Southfield, Mich. - Molded Fiber IP Closeouts with Integrated Lighting and Ducts
• Key Safety Systems Inc. – Sterling Heights, Mich. - INFLATABELT - Inflatable Seat Belt System
• MAHLE – Stuttgart, Germany - Electrical Waste Gate Actuator
• OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH – Regensburg, Germany. - OSTAR Headlamp - LED Headlamp Light Source
• Robert Bosch GmbH – Stuttgart, Germany - Bosch P2 Parallel Full Hybrid System
• Schaeffler Technologies – Troy, Mich. - INA Lightweight Balance Shaft with Roller Bearings
• Takata Corporation – Auburn Hills, Mich. - Vacuum Folding Technology

"Every winner that emerges from the rigorous Automotive News PACE Award judging process is truly exceptional in the industry," said Peter Brown, Automotive News publisher and editorial director. "These eleven companies are clearly playing to win in this challenging global market."

Automotive manufacturers receiving Automotive News PACE Innovation Partnership Awards during last evening's ceremonies were:

• Chrysler Group LLC for its partnership on Molded Fiber IP Closeouts with Integrated Lighting and Ducts with Janesville Acoustics
• Ford Motor Company for its partnership on Powertrain Digital Integration and Automation (PDIA) with Dassault Systemes
• Ford Motor Company for its partnership on INFLATABELT - Inflatable Seat Belt System with Key Safety Systems Inc.

Innovation Partnership Award winners were selected by Automotive News PACE Award judges from the pool of 2011 finalists.

PACE Award winners were chosen following a thorough review of written submissions from each supplier and site visits by an independent panel of judges, drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders.

Profiles of each PACE Award winner are available by visiting www.autonews.com/pace.

Source: Automotive News