megatrends

have demonstrated a 10.5% of fuel reduction,
just by bringing all Schaeffler products together
in one car.
If you do the engineering together and design
the product together then you can ensure the
greatest benefits.
Is there a difference in the approach
to engine efficiency R&D between
passenger cars and commercial
vehicles?
There are some differences because the cost
pressure is greater for commercial vehicles. You
have to consider the whole lifecycle of the truck,
including total cost of ownership and fuel
economy improvement.
Do you see a similar difference
between premium and sports car
brands and mainstream brands in
the passenger car segment?
In terms of fuel economy, the premium brands
are always ahead, with the others following.
What is the reason for that? Is it
down to financial strength?
No, it's a brand and leadership thing. Look at
BMW, Daimler, Audi and Volkswagen: they try
to be in front and the most efficient and others
try to follow.
What opportunities remain for
improving the fuel efficiency and fuel
economy of light vehicles and
commercial vehicles?
What is left is to look at the hidden and minor
things. We need to look at the whole system
and look at every point where there are energy
losses, then try to find the best solution and
adapt it to the application. There is no standard
solution any more.
And does that apply just as much for
light vehicles as for heavy
commercial vehicles?
Megatrends
Yes. I think that what we see in optimising light
vehicles is coming to commercial vehicles a little
later.
Finally, what future do you see for
the combustion engine, and do you
anticipate electrification playing an
important role?
Yes. We will see combustion engines for another
50 years. But we will see hybridisation and
electrification, for sure. It makes sense to
optimise combustion engines because there is
still potential in there, but we are also working
on electrification. We have some prototypes
running with electrified axles and also in-wheel
motor prototypes. But the next step is probably
the electrical and engine motors together, with
combustion motors to drive the efficiency and
enable cars to enter big polluted cities in the
future.
So we will see everything. We also will see pure
electrification, which can be more efficient by
reducing friction, but it will take some time.
With a given set of technologies, you reach
acceptable limits on how far you can go
down with the displacement of the engine
relative to the weight of the vehicle
Q1 2013 Automotive World Megatrends magazine | www.automotiveworld.com 10
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