Bosch unveils mass market EV tech at NAIAS 2017

Bosch has unveiled its latest electric vehicle technologies with a variety of powertrain solutions at The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

“At NAIAS, we will showcase solutions that make electrification accessible to the masses so OEMs can deliver on the promise of this technology to mainstream consumers,” says Mike Mansuetti, president of Robert Bosch.

Making its debut at NAIAS, Bosch’s electric axle drive system (eAxle) makes electrification accessible for carmakers through a scalable, modular platform that can bring 5-10% cost efficiency compared to stand-alone components.

The eAxle is flexible for multiple platforms and brings together Bosch powertrain components into one system.
The Thermal Management Station will show how Bosch manages heat flows in EVs and extends range by up to 25% especially in winter driving conditions.

New research from Bosch shows 62% of US new car buyers believe they will own at least one EV in their household within 10 years or less.

Of those who anticipate having an EV in their household at any point in their lifetime, 71% believe all of their household vehicles will be EVs within 15 years.

While new car buyers want to buy EVs, anxieties remain around specific criteria, including purchase criteria as vehicle reliability, distance between re-charging stops, time required to re-charge, new car purchase price and cost of repair and maintenance.

A subset of respondents, 32%, indicated they are not interested in purchasing or leasing an EV within the next 15 years, signaling a preference toward other powertrain options.

Reducing time to charge and increasing safety

Bosch will also showcase its Level 2 240V EV Charging Station. The American-made Power Xpress station lets consumers choose between 12-32 amps of power, and can charge compatible EVs up to five times faster than a standard 110V outlet.

At NAIAS, Bosch will also feature automated and connected technologies including the global debut of a key requirement on the path to fully automated driving.

The Electric Power Steering (EPS) system with fail-operational function is a feature that enables either a driver or auto pilot system to independently return to a minimal risk condition while maintaining close to 50% electric steering support in the rare case of a single failure.

This technology will enable OEMs to comply with the fall back strategies as proposed in the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy documents from the US Department of Transportation and National Traffic Highway Safety Association.