At Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) 2019, Continental will be showcasing technologies for future mobility under the slogan ‘Mobility is the Heartbeat of Life’. A particular highlight that the company will be presenting is the fully integrated axle drive for electric cars, production of which is scheduled to start this year for customers in China and Europe.
“Our fully integrated axle drive module makes us pioneers and puts us a clear step ahead of the competition. The system allows both established large-scale manufacturers and new suppliers to quickly produce efficient, fully electric-powered vehicles,” said Andreas Wolf, head of Continental’s powertrain business.
The compact axle drive weighs less than 80kg and consists of an electric motor, transmission and inverter. As a package, the three elements make the electric vehicle around 20kg lighter – not least because numerous cable connections and plugs are dispensed with.
Another highlight is the 48V high-power drive, which enables full hybrid vehicles based only on 48V electric drivetrain to reach speeds of 50-56mph (80-90km/h) on electric power only.
Continental will also showcase its new short-range radar at the motor show, which is able to detect other road users and obstacles with high precision. This allows cornering assistance systems to recognise danger earlier than before and warn the driver faster, request emergency braking or automatically trigger emergency braking.
Another fascinating exhibit will be an idea for ‘robo-taxis’ of the future that would be able to perform tyre maintenance themselves. The latest Continental tyre study for driverless taxis demonstrates how this will work. Sensors built into the treads of tyres are already able to transmit information on tread depth, possible damage and tyre temperature, as well as the correct inflation pressure. In the future, the rims will also be fitted with air pumps that adjust the tyre pressure, even while driving. This wheel and tyre concept is called Conti C.A.R.E. and is connected to the fleet management system via the Internet. The benefit is that it can provide information in almost real time and warn fleet managers of irregularities or non-compliance with standard conditions, saving repair costs and reducing vehicle downtime.
In collaboration with EasyMile, a manufacturer of driverless vehicles, Continental will be offering IAA visitors the chance to take a test drive in a robo-taxi. Equipped with Continental technology, the vehicle will be driving autonomously around the exhibition grounds during the IAA. Visitors can hop in anytime for a drive around Hall 10.
Continental also invites visitors to its booth to try out a fully connected driving demonstrator and experience first-hand the world of intelligent mobility. Whether travelling with the family to an amusement park or alone to a business appointment, visitors will gain insight from the driver’s seat into how connected systems make driving safer, more pleasant and more relaxed – regardless of whether they prefer automated or manual driving. To this end, Continental has integrated a variety of technologies from the research and innovation lab into the demonstrator. The result is a holistic, multimedia experience of driving in the future.
Continental will also demonstrate how automotive electronics will in the future enable vehicles to continuously learn new functions. Flexible electronics and an intelligent vehicle network, mean that new hardware, software and functions can be integrated, even after thousands of miles. Specialists visiting the trade fair will get a chance to learn more about the required framework conditions.
Finally, during the second week of the IAA, the Continental booth will become a place of research. The technology company has invited young developers, engineers and programmers to collaborate with Continental experts on mobility topics of the future. This will be the second hackathon organised by Continental at the IAA in Frankfurt, after the first event held two years ago. This year participants will again compete in small teams and develop new ideas in collaboration with Continental experts while gaining an insight into the company and healthy mobility.
