NGlobal Magazin 01-2010

Niedersachsen Global www.nglobal.de 40 Energy Stringent emissions legislation — with the aim, for example, of achieving a sustained reduction in CO2 emissions — as well as limited oil stocks and the de- mand for thrifty vehicles put car makers just as much as suppliers on the line to come up with a rigorous and effective response. Seen from this perspective, and with a view to potential fuel savings of 25 per- cent and more, as well as additional torque, hybrid ve- hicles represent an attractive option in the short- and medium-term and electric vehicles in the long run. The transition from today’s internal combustion en- gines to the zero-emission electric cars of the future will proceed gradually. It will be a seamless transi- tion, involving a host of drivetrain concepts. Since 2003 Continental, one of the world’s leading auto- motive suppliers has been producing a hybrid system that encompasses all the basic electric components: power electronics, an electric motor and energy stor- age. These modules can be adapted to meet specific vehicle requirements worldwide and can therefore be used in all vehicle categories, from compact vehicles to SUVs, and also with all types of drives, e.g. electric, hybrid and fuel cell. The flexibility of this concept can reduce the customers’ time to market and their de- velopment costs while simultaneously upping quality. International Acceptance for Electric Vehicles Continental’s 2008 representative international hybrid survey among more than 8,000 drivers in eight coun- tries was not the last to highlight the inroads that hy- brid and electric vehicles are making with drivers all around the world. Half of all motorists queried would like to have a zero-emission and battery-driven car for getting around the city, motivated as much by rising fuel costs as by environmental aspects. The study also showed that the state could encourage motorists in this direction by offering tax advantages for the pur- chase of such a car. In 2008 Continental was the first manufacturer any- where in the world to launch series production of a lithium-ion battery for use in cars with hybrid drive and, since 2009, available in the Mercedes S400 Blue- HYBRID. As state-of-the-art energy storage, lithium- ion batteries provide significantly higher energy and power density than the technologies still in use in hybrid vehicles (nickel-metal hydride battery). Start- ing in 2011, moreover, the first purely electric vehicles with Continental technology will go into series pro- duction. www.continental-corporation.com Battery  Driven Cars Hannover based Continental delivers smart solutions for electric cars. Outlook Electric Cars Questions: How do you rate the outlook for electric cars compared with models with conventional or other alternative powertrains? Outlook Electric Cars 48.2% The outlook for electric cars is very bright” 13.9% The outlook for electric cars is not so good” 1.4% No comment 48.2% The outlook for electric cars is moderately bright” Source: Continental in cooperation with TNS/Infratest, 999 Interviews in Germany Photo: Continental “Our market studies have shown that the vast majority of motorists predominantly travel short distances and in urban traffic, with more than two thirds of these journeys being almost entirely in urban traffic. Electric driving will consequently be increasingly important for this area.” Jörg Grotendorst Head of the Powertrain Business Unit Hybrid & Electric Vehicles Continental Photo: Continental