Range extenders can extend the driving range for an electric vehicle ...

innovation
Driving confidently
into U.S. market By:
While many auto companies put the brakes on their activities
in the U.S. market when the downturn put the skids on new
vehicle sales, Buehler Motor, Inc. (BMI) has continued to rev
up its presence in the market.
The company recently relocated and expanded its United
States headquarters in Morrisville, North Carolina, to a new
14 000-square-foot North American Technical Center (NATC). “It’s
not an exaggeration to say that this center is one of the most
“
It’s not an exaggeration to
say that this center is one of
the most modern and efficient
in North America. It allows us
to meet our North American
customers’ growing demands
for technically advanced and
environmentally responsible
motor products.
”
Bob Riedford, president and general
manager of Buehler Motor, Inc.
modern and efficient in North America. It allows us to meet our
North American customers’ growing demands for technically
advanced and environmentally responsible motor products,”
says Bob Riedford, president and general manager of BMI. The
NATC has achieved the highest rating for environmentally-friendly
information technology compliance. According to Riedford, it will
also serve as the U.S. hub for Buehler Motor’s customer service
commitment and its newly established national partner network.
“With significantly expanded engineering, prototyping and
testing capabilities, BMI is already delivering drive solutions for
its customers’ next-generation green products,” says Riedford.
“Beyond the products designed and developed for its customers,
BMI is also establishing its own internal green manufacturing
and operating processes as part of its goal to become one of
the world’s most environmentally responsible motor component
manufacturers.”
BMI’s parent company is German firm, Buehler Motor, which
delivered more than 22 million mechatronic drive units worldwide
in 2008. The drives are manufactured for a number of industries
including the automotive, aviation, building and office equipment,
and medical device markets. BMI is currently contracted to
supply an auxiliary water pump for General Motor’s
Chevrolet Volt Extended-Range Electric Vehicle
and CODA Automotive’s upcoming electric
five-passenger sedan.
Some of BMI’s automotive solutions
include those for drive trains that help
cut carbon dioxide emissions while
improving safety and driving comfort.
The company also manufactures shift
and clutch actuators for automated
manual and dual clutch transmissions,
motors for transmission oil pumps
in start/stop and hybrid systems,
electromechanical gear shift actuator
for automatic transmissions and transfer
case actuators.
An important part of BMI’s philosophy is
eco-consciousness. The company has worked
on green technologies including the design of drive
solutions for environmentally-friendly applications as well
as constant optimization of design, products, and processes to
protect the environment as a whole. For the automotive market,
its electric drives in oil pumps help maintain oil pressure in start/
stop automatic transmissions which have helped cut the carbon
footprint across the world. BMI’s electrical water pumps maintain
energy optimized thermal management in internal combustion
engines or cool the batteries of hybrid and electric cars. For over
ten years, an annual environmental life-cycle assessment has
documented its progress towards ever-improving, environmentally
conscious and resource preserving production. In line with this,
BMI is certified under the ISO 140001 for its environmental
management system.
18 to read full version of AI stories go to www.ai-online.com
Rob White