Continental has entered an agreement with Oerlikon to collaborate on the development and marketing of integrated motor and transmission systems for hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs), the two automotive suppliers said in a joint press release. The companies will cooperate on improving efficiency of electric drivetrain through integrated optimisation of both the electric motor and the transmission. “Electric drive is a field where integrated system-level optimisation is the only way to offer significantly improved customer benefits. And that is precisely what this cooperation is all about,” said Ralf Schmid, Head of Research and Development at the Continental Powertrain Division's Hybrid Electric Vehicle Business Unit.
Significance: In the collaboration where Continental will leverage its know-how in conventional, hybrid and all-electric powertrain, Oerlikon will bring its experience in transmissions to the table. “The product portfolios and capabilities of Oerlikon and Continental make an excellent match. Our collaboration will allow us to significantly improve the efficiency of the electric powertrain,” said Paolo Mantelli, Head of Performance Automotive at Oerlikon Graziano, a business unit of Oerlikon. The agreement covers development and marketing of the integrated motor and transmission systems. The two partners will later decide who will be system supplier for a given project on a case-by-case basis.
The latest agreement further expands Continental’s offerings to emerging alternate powertrain-driven hybrids and EVs sector. The company is already a key supplier of systems and modules such as electric motors, power electronic systems and batteries for hybrids and EVs. Continental’s partnership with Oerlikon will extend this portfolio to include transmission systems.
