PSA and Hyundai make use of Vitesco electric drives
Vitesco Technologies, the former Powertrain division of Continental, has announced the signing of an agreement to supply the first fully integrated drive system for several PSA and Hyundai mass production models.
Production of the new electric drive system has already started at the Vitesco Technologies plant in Tianjin, China. The PSA Group is using the new drive system on its e-CMP modular electric platform, on which the Peugeot e-208 and Opel Corsa-e compact electric cars are based, and Hyundai has chosen Vitesco Technologies as their preferred partner in the Chinese market.
For this purpose, Vitesco and Beijing Hyundai have formed a joint venture, which will be equipping the South Korean company’s compact SUV model Encino and the sedan Lafesta with Vitesco’s electric drive technology. More electric vehicles equipped with Vitesco technology will follow over the next twelve months.
The new Vitesco axle drive with liquid-cooled electric motor and power electronics will weigh less than 80 kilograms. In addition, some components have been arranged or combined with other components in such a way that numerous cables and plug connections are no longer required – which reduces costs and complexity. For example, the electric parking lock is integrated into the axle drive transmission.
Vitesco offers the axle drive in power stages between 100 and 150 kW, whereby PSA has opted for the simplest version of the drive fo their e-CMP compact car. “With a maximum output of 150 kW and maximum torque of 310 Nm, the more powerful version is comparable with a conventional 2-litre turbodiesel engine, offering best-in-class power density, size and weight,” says Thomas Stierle, Head of the Vitesco Hybrid Electric Vehicle segment.
With the conclusion of the two agreements, Vitesco sees its pioneering role confirmed: “in the development of intelligent tailor-made solutions for all aspects of traction electrification.” The company has been producing systems for electric vehicles since 2006 and began providing Renault’s Zoe, Fluence and Kangoo models in 2011.
Just last month, it became clear that Continental was creating a complete subsidiary for their Powertrain division: Vitesco Technologies with subsequent listing on the stock exchange. Continental is thus expanding its room for maneuver “given an accelerating trend toward powertrain electrification and the hard-to-predict conditions surrounding a potential partial IPO in 2020,” the company announced.
According to Andreas Wolf, CEO of Vitesco Technologies, Vitesco is one of the few system providers able to supply complete electrification from a single source. “We will be focusing our investment strategy even more heavily on electrified and all-electric technologies and channelling more internal resources into these areas. In doing so, we are significantly strengthening our existing high level of electronics expertise,” says the CEO with a view to the future.
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