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01/01/2011
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Innovation continues to drive growth at Bosch
 Bosch continues to maintain its position as a leading global supplier. The company's products can be found on virtually every make of car currently manufactured throughout the world. To maintain its technological lead, Bosch once again invested substantially in research and development, spending around 4 billion euros in 2010.
Automotive Technology is the largest Bosch division. The seven business areas are: injection technology for internal combustion engines, powertrain peripherals, alternative drive concepts, systems for active and passive driving safety, assistance and comfort functions, technology for in-car information, navigation and communication, as well as concepts, technology, and service for the automotive aftermarket.
Internal combustion engines still have great potential
The company's aim is to make personal mobility as eco-friendly and efficient as possible. Bosch believes that whilst automobiles of the future will be powered by electricity, the conventional internal combustion engine will remain the dominant drive technology for the next 20 years.
In the years ahead, reducing fuel consumption, and thus CO2 emissions, of the vehicle fleet will mainly be achieved by further optimising internal combustion engines. The trend for engine downsizing should mean a further significant fuel reduction for both diesel and gasoline engines.
By combining improvements in the company's common-rail injection technology with other engine-related developments, the fuel consumption of diesel engines can be further reduced by 33 percent. Bosch is also working on a common-rail system for high-performance engines. This uses injection pressures of over 2,000 bar and piezo valves to atomise the diesel fuel even more finely.
EV technology goes into series production
Since the start of 2010 Bosch has supplied technology for the hybrid versions of two European vehicle models. Furthermore, the company's SB LiMotive joint venture for automotive lithium-ion batteries was awarded its first contracts. From the electric motor and power electronics to the battery, Bosch offers automakers all the components they need for the electrification of the power-train, whether for hybrid vehicles or for all-electric cars.
Component optimisation
Bosch also achieved further reductions in fuel consumption by developing innovations for auxiliary powertrain systems. In 2010, for example, the company supplied the two-millionth starter for start-stop systems. The system can be further improved by operating in conjunction with the Bosch developed high-efficiency generators.
Driver and pedestrian safety
Bosch activities include the development and production of the following systems that are essential for future driver assistance and safety technologies: ESP® (electronic stability program) provides comprehensive data on the movement of the vehicle at any given time. Networked with other systems, it can automatically stabilise the vehicle by applying the brakes at single wheels. Radar systems provide information about traffic ahead. They are currently used by ACC (adaptive cruise control) as well as predictive collision warning.
Bosch is currently working on predictive emergency braking. Studies show that more than a third of all drivers do not hit the brakes in a rear-end collision. Bosch's systems are designed firstly to warn, then to assist and lastly to brake automatically.
In many cases, an initial collision can often be followed by further collisions – measures designed to minimise their effects are known as secondary collision mitigation (SCM). The early pole crash detection (EPCD) function links the ESP® and the airbag control. If the ESP® sensors detect any crucial lateral movement of the vehicle, the airbag control will prepare for a possible side impact. In this case, the side and head airbags can be activated faster than usual.
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Author
Robert Bosch
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