Bosch reveals e-mobility plans at IAA Mobility

Cars, e-bikes, motorcycles, scooters, electric race cars – Bosch is rolling out mobility solutions for all types of vehicles.

It’s even making smartphones and people’s homes an integral part of mobility, showcasing its solutions for personalised, automated, connected, and electrified mobility at IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich until September 12.

More vehicles will be electrically powered in future and will increasingly be connected with other road users and their surroundings, assume more driving task themselves, and provide personalised services for their occupants, Bosch says.

The company says it has the systems know-how and comprehensive software and hardware expertise required. For example, Bosch is developing central computers for the electronics architecture of the future. These vehicle computers are used for assisted and automated driving, controlling vehicle motion, as well as for cockpit functions and body electronics.

Bosch and nine project partners will present the future of parking in a live demonstration at the IAA Mobility show.

An automated valet parking system developed jointly by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz uses a smartphone command which directs cars automatically to their assigned parking bays without the need for driver supervision.

Interplay between the intelligent parking garage infrastructure and the vehicle technology makes this possible, Bosch says. Sensors in the parking garage monitor the driving aisle and its surroundings while guiding the vehicle.

The in-car technology converts the commands from the infrastructure into safe driving manoeuvres. A joint project with the association of the German automotive industry (VDA) shows how vehicles from different manufacturers will be able to communicate with infrastructure technology from various suppliers in the future.

Against this backdrop, the project partners are also working on an international standard (ISO 23374).

E-bikes are the best-selling EV in Europe, so Bosch will be showcasing new connected-biking solutions along with battery electric power for two and four-wheeled vehicles including all the building blocks for the electrification of passenger cars.

One component is the e-axle, which combines the power electronics, electric motor, and transmission in a single unit and its pre-integrated system solutions for vehicle platforms helping automakers bring EVs to market faster than before.

Bosch also uses thermal management to increase the range of electric and hybrid vehicles..

Mobile fuel cells offer long ranges and short refuelling times, suitable on long-haul routes and in commercial vehicles.

Bosch develops all the key system components to production readiness – including complete systems. For the stack, which converts hydrogen and ambient oxygen into electrical energy, the company is working with Swedish specialist Powercell.

Large-scale manufacturing of the stack is set to begin in 2022, and the launch of the complete fuel-cell system – the Bosch fuel-cell power module – is scheduled for 2023.

Bosch’s Battery in the Cloud prolongs the life of EV batteries. Smart software functions in the cloud continually analyse battery status and take appropriate action to prevent or slow cell aging. The tamper-proof “usage certificate” documents the condition of the battery throughout its entire service life, thus giving a better picture of the battery’s residual value if the car is sold.

With charging services such as Convenience Charging, Bosch makes it easy and straightforward for drivers of electric cars to find – and pay at – publicly accessible charging stations. In addition, the integrated recharging and navigation solution allows for a precise range forecast and route planning that includes recharging stops – and comes with the option to set personal preferences, such as charging stations next to restaurants.

At the IAA Mobility Bosch is presenting a flexible charging cable with integrated control and safety technology. It also does without the usual in-cable control box when charging at a 230-volt power socket. Because it comes with adapters for Type 2 and household plugs, drivers who want to be free to choose whether to recharge from a power socket at home or from a charging station on the road no longer need a second cable.

Bosch’s intelligent energy manager makes it possible for homeowners to reduce CO2 emissions and save energy costs. Serving as an interface between a Bosch heat pump and a photovoltaic system, it optimises the use of home-generated solar energy and distributes it intelligently throughout the building. Alongside heating and hot water, it will also be possible to integrate electric cars into the Bosch energy management system in the future. Compatible wallboxes can then be deployed to recharge vehicles using as much home-generated electricity as possible.

Bosch is turning cars into the command centres for smart homes and also laying the technical foundations for automated driving with sensor technology forming the basis for assisted and increasingly automated driving while developing smartphones as car keys.