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Bosch remains confident on gradual transition to electromobility

Manila - Robert Bosch Inc. (Philippines), local subsidiary of Germany’s Bosch Group and the largest automotive technology parts supplier in the domestic aftermarket, showcased its local line of Gasoline Direct Injection and Diesel Common Rail Injection components at the second Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum. The Bosch Group is engaged in the development and production of fuel components and systems as well as alternative drives that enable vehicles to operate more efficiently and emit significantly lower CO2. Bosch aims to reduce the fuel consumption of internal-combustion engines by another third - considering that some 95 percent of all new vehicles in 2020 will still be powered by diesel and gasoline engines.

“While continuing to increase the efficiency of today’s internal combustion engines Bosch also researches new technologies to reduce the cost of electromobility in the future,” said Joseph Hong, Managing Director of Robert Bosch Inc. (Philippines). “The future of mobility belongs to the electric drive. The only question is when,” Hong further explained to a selected group of media during the forum.




Investing on e-mobility
On the global front, Bosch invests 400 million euros each year in projects related to powertrain electrification while some 800 engineers are working to make the vision of e-mobility a reality. Development work, however, only shows one side of the coin. Convincing drivers of the benefits of electric cars poses another major challenge, which requires presenting customers with market-ready solutions today.

The e-bike, which is already available today, shows the benefits of electromobility to the mass market. 18 brands of e-bikes are already equipped with Bosch drive systems. While traction batteries for long ranges remain expensive, it makes sense to think about how and where the battery technology can be applied in the meantime. On the road to e-mobility, small steps are equally important for future success.

The plug-in hybrid vehicle, which is powered by a relatively compact and affordable battery for short ranges, can be plugged in and the battery recharged from the electricity main. Combined with a gasoline or diesel engine for longer trips, the plug-in hybrid could soon be a realistic option. It could be the solution for a family that runs errands in the city using the electric drive, and then visits relatives a few hundred kilometers away using the internal-combustion engine.

Technically speaking, a combined system such as this calls for broad systems expertise in all types of drive systems – the very kind of networked knowledge that a global supplier like Bosch brings to the table. This broad-ranging know-how has enabled the company to think beyond choosing between conventional and electric drives to come up with technologies that combine both.

A broad range of drive systems
Even in 2020, a lithium-ion battery with a range of 200 kilometers will cost more than PHP300 thousand (5,000 euros). The further development of lithium-ion batteries will play a decisive role here. Together with its partner Samsung SDI, Bosch manufactures such batteries. In the long term, the energy density of such batteries will have to at least double.

The Bosch product portfolio includes electric motors and power electronics as well. With an investment of 600 million euros, the automotive supplier is building a new wafer fab in Reutlingen, Germany to produce its own power semiconductors. This illustrates that Bosch corporate strategy comes not only from broad-based expertise, but also from in-depth technical know-how. By 2013, Bosch will be supplying 12 automakers with components and systems required for some 20 electromobility-related projects.

Full-cycle approach to harnessing clean energy
There are many arguments to support the assertion that the transition to electromobility will be gradual and will see a number of specific solutions for specific markets. Until the full realization of electromobility, companies will need to pool production and standardize components, in addition to reducing costs. Small examples like standardizing plug-in connections show a lot of cost-saving potential. Economies of scale, on the other hand, can be achieved through cooperation between carmakers, and also between carmakers and suppliers. This is why Daimler and Bosch have decided to join forces to develop and manufacture electric motors for electric vehicles.

“The full transition to electromobility in the future will only make sense if energy is harnessed from renewable sources,” said Hong. “It will not make sense if the consumption of fossil fuel is only passed on to power producers.” Bosch is also active in the development of core components for multi-megawatt wind turbines and solar photovoltaics which are locally categorized as “new” renewable energy sources.

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