For Higher Fuel Efficiency - SEG Automotive Brings Innovative Start/Stop Motor to Compact Cars

BANGALORE, September 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

- SC60 is a new, light weight Start/Stop starter motor tailor-made for the modern gasoline and diesel engines - saving 8% fuel in real world
- Technology co-developed with German R&D and ready to go for immediate CO₂ benefits
- India is the first market worldwide to introduce the product

The Indian passenger car market is growing rapidly, increasing by 9% to 3.6 million cars in 2017. Yet, with a market penetration of just over 50 cars per 1000 inhabitants, there is still potential for immense growth - and conversely, a great responsibility to make motorization as environment friendly as possible. Today, air pollution is a major problem in the country and the WHO counts 12 Indian cities among the 25 most polluted in the world.

"Start/Stop is an important technology to make cars more environment friendly, offering immediate fuel efficiency increases of up to 8%. We were the first movers in India for introducing Start/Stop technology in 2008, however, it was mostly fitted in larger cars. The new SC60 Start/Stop starter motor is developed specifically with the Indian market in mind for smaller combustion engines: it is amongst the smallest of its kind in the world and able to fit in compact cars, yet it provides up to 1.2kW starting power. It was premiered in India recently by both Indian and international OEMs, with the development and application engineering happening in close cooperation between central R&D in Germany and the local team in Bangalore. The SC60 is an efficient answer to reduce pollution by decreasing fuel consumption and help OEMs reach the new, more stringent CAFC goals defined by the Indian government," states Anil Kumar M R, Managing Director, SEG Automotive India.

"We are pioneers of Start/Stop, having introduced the technology in 2007, and have since seen it bring efficient CO₂-reductions to a large share of the European, US and Chinese market. With the new extra-compact SC60 we are confident that the technology will now also conquer developing markets like India and China, since it perfectly serves the smaller cars which are prevalent there," states Peter Sokol, COO of SEG Automotive.

SEG Automotive has ongoing projects that aim to also roll out the new product to other OEMs in India and other markets like Brazil, China and Europe, further solidifying its role as a technology leader and one of the most significant global suppliers.

Background information: How does Start/Stop work?
The engine control unit (ECU) automatically switches off the engine if the vehicle comes to a stop and the driver puts the gear into neutral, for example at a traffic light. For cars with automatic transmission just the pressed brake pedal and vehicle standstill is required. As soon as the driver presses the clutch again or in case of automatic transmission releases the brake, the engine is re-started automatically.

Start/Stop works conveniently in the background, and evaluates a wide array of sensor information before being activated. For instance, a battery sensor determines the battery's level of charge; only if a quick restart is guaranteed, the engine will be switched off when the vehicle is stopped.

Another example is the vehicle's air conditioning. If the cabin temperature is too cold or too hot, the engine will continue to run to more quickly achieve the occupants' desired temperature. Finally, there is a DC/DC converter for stabilizing the voltage of the electrical system during starts to ensure that the radio, navigation system, or hands-free telephone operate without any interference or interruption.

Advanced Start/Stop
Engineers are continually working to extend engine shutdown times in order to further reduce consumption, and thus CO₂ emissions. Advanced Start/Stop therefore also turns off the engine when the vehicle is coasting to a stop and is already at low vehicle speed. Depending on the style of driving and the traffic conditions, the advanced Start/Stop system from SEG Automotive can save up to 10 percent of total fuel consumption.

Other products by SEG Automotive that contribute to reduction of CO₂ emissions
In parallel, SEG Automotive is pursuing a range of additional projects to further decrease CO₂ emissions of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With the Boost Recuperation Machine (BRM), which facilitates 48-volt mild hybridization, SEG Automotive already offers a technology for hybridizing gasoline and diesel engines in a cost-effective manner. The BRM enables regenerative braking, storing energy that is later converted into additional driving power, delivering extra torque during acceleration and allows "coasting" at high speeds with the engine turned off. Through the use of BRM fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions can be further reduced by about 15 percent. SEG Automotive also offers a broad range of high efficiency generators for any power requirements, which keep the vehicle's electrical system stable and reduce CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption.

About SEG Automotive
SEG Automotive is closely linked to the history of the automobile. Emerging from the BOSCH Starter Motors & Generators division in 2018, the company stands for more than a century of innovations in this product sector: from starter motor and generator to Start/Stop and mild-hybridization. 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 drive technology. With 16 locations in the most important automobile markets in the world and over 8,000 employees, SEG Automotive offers a network that guarantees the highest level of engineering and production expertise worldwide - from Germany to China. Technology leadership and highest quality standards set the products apart: almost all automotive OEMs worldwide are relying on SEG Automotive's tailored solutions for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Press contact
Yuvarajan G
Corporate communication
SEG Automotive India Private Limited
Mobile: +91-9538660636
Email: [email protected]

Reena Rajan
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+91-9611546655
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