Hybrid Vehicles, Will Play A Key Role To Mitigate CO2 Emissions. - Anil Kumar, President & MD, SEG Automotive India
At a time, when COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference labeled fossil fuels as the key driver of global warming, countries across the world are looking to transition to electric mobility overcoming mammoth infrastructural challenges. Hybrid Vehicles offering high fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions make much more sense in the interim. SEG Automotive is one such company that supplies components globally for Light Electric Mobility (LEM) and 48V hybrids.
Anil Kumar, the MD, and President of SEG Automotive India, In a conversation with Siddharth Shankar from BW Businessworld, talks about 48V Hybrids and electrification in India.
Excerpts
While Electric vehicles are touted to be the enablers for a low carbon energy ecosystem, how are the 48V Hybrids placed when it comes to CO2 emissions and efficiency.
The CO2 legislations globally were a key driver in the adoption of hybrid systems, and a similar transition in India can be anticipated. In efforts towards reducing CO2 emissions, the 2nd phase of CAFE II is planned for implementation in India, during 2022. And the 48V hybrid solutions from SEG Automotive, which supported the achievement of CO2 targets globally for major OEMs, can be adopted for Indian applications. These 48V systems are easy to integrate in the conventional ICE powertrain, yet reduce up to 26% of CO2 emissions.
A 48V hybrid would be a very effective solution in many markets today and also in the medium term: saving significantly on fuel and CO2. 48V hybridization has emerged as a cost-effective, easy-to- integrate solution to make an immediate impact to reach climate goals and meet CO2 legislation targets.
SEG Automotive has been a pioneer for this technology; with flexible offerings for different topologies of the hybrid powertrain, reducing CO2 up to 26% compared to conventional cars.
The Boost Recuperation Machine (BRM) from SEG Automotive, is the only 48V machine recognized as an eco-innovation by the EU and granting up to 1.8g / km of additional CO2 credits. It replaces the conventional generator in its position on the belt to turn combustion engines into mild hybrids, significantly reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The new EM 1.25 from SEG Automotive takes the concept of 48V to a new level. The highly efficient 25 kW e-machine can be integrated flexibly throughout the powertrain - from the gearbox (P2, P3) to the rear-axle (P4), depending on the architecture preferred by the customer, finally improving the fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions under real-life conditions.
Do you think Hybrid Vehicles could make the transition a fully battery- electric vehicle easier in the future?
The transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles plays an important role on a global scale in mitigating man-made climate change. In fact, it is becoming apparent that there will not simply be a shift from conventional combustion engines to EVs - instead, the previous 12V vehicles will be replaced by a combination of 48V hybrids and EVs, which are the best solution for the climate in various scenarios. In India, the 48V hybrids, when integrated on existing ICE platforms, will also help the automotive industry in recovery of the investments made into BS6, this way, the 48V systems can make the overall system competitive, while significantly reducing on CO2 emissions.
Also, the hybrid vehicles supports the development of the eco-system, to support migration towards, electric vehicles in the future. The hybrid system uses sub-components similar to an electric vehicle system, for example: powertrain components like electric motors, battery systems. Etc. With hybrid vehicles the local eco-system for manufacturing and servicing of components will already be established for easy adoption of electric vehicles in the future. And the end consumer is also benefitted in the form of affordability and convenience for electric vehicles.
What are your thoughts on Electric Mobility taking off in all segments?
Because their well-to-wheel energy efficiency is significantly better, battery-electric vehicles are the most suitable solution for passenger cars in the long-term. Nevertheless, further large-scale investments are necessary: in battery technology, in charging infrastructure, and, in particular, in green power generation.
In the mid-and long-term, clearly, not all mobility needs can be met by battery technology. Battery- electric airplanes or cargo ships, for example, have severe limitations regarding weight and range. The use of battery technology, or fuel cells, in trucks with >16 tons will also take time. And in many markets, including India, the charging infrastructure & green power are just not there.
Therefore, investments are called for into BEVs and in parallel into alternative technologies, infrastructure, and renewable energies for the entire mobility sector and car production. This is the only way to achieve the necessary contribution to climate protection. Hybrid vehicles, particularly 48V- powered ones, will play a key role here to mitigate CO2 emissions.
Also, the transition to electrification will be different across various segments, for example, light vehicles like two-wheelers and three-wheelers will transition faster towards electrification, due to the already positive total cost of ownership and the usage conditions like last-mile connectivity or delivery applications.
Future of Hybrid vehicles in terms of technology
Avoiding emissions: Increasing the efficiency of combustion engines through 48V hybridization
Every combustion engine produced now and in the future must have the lowest possible CO2 footprint, especially given growing mobility in emerging countries. Vehicles should not only become lighter - but also more fuel-efficient.
An essential component to increase efficiency is 48V mild hybridization. It can be incorporated into existing powertrain architectures with little integration effort and low system costs. Depending on the mounting position (“topology”), fuel savings of 15 – 25% are possible.
48V topologies and their saving potential at a glance
The most straightforward solution is to replace the alternator in its installation space on the belt with a 48V machine (“P0 topology”). For this, SEG Automotive offers the Boost Recuperation Machine (BRM), which the EU has recognized as an eco-innovation. More than one million vehicles on the road today are already utilizing the BRM to recover braking energy of up to 15 kW. This power is then used to boost the engine with up to 12 kW, thus significantly reducing fuel consumption.
How can India play a key role in the whole ecosystem of Hybrid vehicles and EVs?
Hybrid and Electric mobility brings in an enormous opportunity for the Indian Automotive sector. India with its expertise in software and electronics can play a key role in new requirements of connected solutions, powertrain components, software, and system solutions for the global market. The industry should also focus on localizing imports and promoting make in India. The focus of the industry should be on seeking new opportunities and diversifying into new domains of the market by continuously improving competitiveness on technology and cost.
SEG Automotive current business and future plans for hybrid and EVs
An e-machine will be found in virtually all powertrains of the future, regardless of whether the energy comes from fuel, batteries, or hydrogen - and these e-machines must be as efficient, reliable, and cost-effective as possible. We offer OEMs a wide range of services – from e-machine engineering to designing manufacturing of the machine and its components. These services draw on our decades of experience in the development of electric machines and their industrialization.
Accordingly, SEG Automotive is actively shaping the automobile industry's journey from the combustion engine to electrification by delivering efficient solutions for CO2 reduction – regardless of the powertrain technology. We continuously evaluate the product gaps and manage our portfolio by investing in new technology for the future. One such technology recently has been the highly efficient electric mobility solutions towards electrification of two-wheelers and three-wheelers. We have already started on this journey and would bring in new technologies for further CO2 reduction in ICE vehicles while upgrading the electrification portfolio.
While electric mobility is gaining popularity and proving beneficial in the light mobility space, the internal combustion engine continues to play a significant role in passenger car applications in the years to come. For this segment, SEG Automotive’s efficient solutions like the start-stop motors, high-efficiency generators, and the 48V hybrid solutions, offer improved fuel economy and CO2 reduction.
