MAHLE’s Contribution to Efficient Internal Combustion Engines and Electric Powertrains of the Future

Authors

Wolf-Henning Scheider, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, MAHLE GmbH, Stuttgart

Year

2017

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Series 12, No 802

Summary

To achieve the ambitious climate policy objectives set forth at the World Convention on Climate Change 2015 in Paris, it is essential to pursue a dual strategy that encompasses both the internal combustion engine and electric drives. In the short to medium term, it is important that we continue to steadily improve the internal combustion engine in the years and decades ahead—particularly given the fact that the global fleet is projected to more than 90 percent of ICE-powered vehicles on the road by the year 2030. Alternative fuels such as e-fuels can also make a crucial contribution here. In the long run, it will also be necessary to electrify the powertrain to reach the zero-emissions target in the second half of the century. MAHLE has developed its dual strategy with the aim of systematically developing internal combustion engines and alternative drives alike. While there is still plenty of CO₂ reduction potential in the short and medium term by optimizing ICE components (up to 10% in the WLTC), alternative fuels such as CNG additionally offer the potential to lower CO₂ emissions by over 25% (WLTC). If synthetic fuels are used, for instance, the internal combustion engine can even operate with a net zero carbon footprint. But MAHLE also offers innovative solutions intended to increase the market acceptance of electric vehicles. In terms of thermal management, there are various applications in which cooling and heating play a key role in various areas. These range from energy-efficient interior climate control to battery integration, to the powertrain comprising the electric motor and power electronics. Thus, no matter the drive concept, MAHLE stands ready as a reliable development partner to face the challenges of the future.