TI Automotive Earns Back-to-Back Automotive News PACE Innovation Awards

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, TI Automotive has earned an Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers Contribution to Excellence) Award in the Product category, this time for its advanced Dual Channel Single Stage (DCSS) fuel pump.  TI Automotive earned a 2009 award for its partial zero-emission, ship in the bottle (SIB), saddle-shaped plastic fuel tank technology.

DCSS is the industry's first high-pressure, high-flow turbine fuel pump.  It uniquely features two parallel sets of high-pressure turbine blades on a single impeller, which gives it a broad dynamic range that improves fuel economy and performance and reduces fuel system complexity.

"DCSS technology enables automakers to use one fuel pump family to cover multiple engine applications, from 3-cylinder range-extender engines in electric hybrid applications to high-performance V12-cylinder sports cars," said Al Deane, chief technology officer, TI Automotive.  "The technology has been so effective, it can deliver a 70 percent reduction in our global pump manufacturing complexity through rationalizing assembly lines, reducing the number of suppliers, component variation and finished goods inventory.  As a result, we are on a path to reduce our product portfolio from nine pump families to three and apply them to multiple powertrain platforms."

Whereas conventional single-blade fuel pumps lose flow under severe operating conditions, DCSS shows little degradation in performance due to its unique flow dynamics associated with the parallel flow channels and the dual turbine blade set.  

The net effect is the pump's ability to deliver the broadest dynamic range across the flow and pressure spectrum, from 90 liters per hour (lph) at 6.5 volts and 4 bar, to 300 lph at 12 volts and 5 bar.

The TI Automotive DCSS fuel pump is currently in production on the BMW Z4, X5, X6, 5 and 7 series, MINI, Mercedes C-Class, VW Tiguan, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette, among others.  

"Winning a second consecutive Automotive News PACE Award recognizes our commitment to advancing fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology," said Bill Kozyra, chairman, CEO and president, TI Automotive.  "The automotive industry is looking for new solutions that maximize fuel economy, improve emissions and reduce costs.  DCSS meets all three criteria and clearly demonstrates the importance of supplier-provided innovations."

TI Automotive developed the DCSS fuel pump at its Caro Technology Center in Caro, Mich., as part of a global advanced engineering initiative. It is currently manufactured in Greeneville, Tenn., Wapienica, Poland, and Tianjin, China.

The Automotive News PACE Awards honor superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. This prestigious award, now in its 16th year, is recognized around the world as the industry symbol of innovation.

About TI Automotive

Fluid thinking™ shapes the mindset of TI Automotive. Global automotive manufacturers turn to TI Automotive for insight and focus to develop industry-changing fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology.

With 14,000 employees at 126 locations in 27 countries, our strength lies in our ability to creatively meet and exceed the increasing fuel economy and emissions regulations of tomorrow's auto industry.

SOURCE TI Automotive