1 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

ContiTireNews For the online version please click here: › English version #4/June 2015 › German version

Editor responsible under press law: Continental/Division Alexander Bahlmann Head of Media & Public Relations PLT Continental sets the pace Büttnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Phone: +49 511 938-2615 in e-mobility E-Mail: [email protected] Author: Klaus Engelhart 2 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

›› Innovative solutions for the automotive future ›› Conti.eContact has 20 percent lower ›› Continental is a system supplier and technology leader

As any expert will tell you, the electrification of drive systems is a key tool in the drive to safeguard mobility into the future. It is seen as a way of reducing dependency on fuels and at the same time minimizing emissions of substances that damage the environment and personal health. That’s why, back in 2009, the federal government in Germany approved the “National Development Plan for Electro-Mobili- ty”. By 2020 this envisions one million electric vehicles on Germany’s roads. But at the end of November 2014 this figure stood at just 12,156, according to the Federal Motor Trans- port Authority. Why so few? Perhaps because, while electric have an extremely “green” image among drivers in Germany, they have struggled to summon up any kind of emoti- onal appeal. A clear majority of respondents to the Continental Mobility Study 2015 rated all-electric vehicles as extremely environment- friendly (72%) and sensible (67%), but also lacking in the image factors that prompt people to buy them – such as driving pleasure (26%), attractive design (26%) and sportiness (23%). In addition to their higher purchase price compared to conventionally powered vehicles, this lop-sided image has dampened drivers’ visions of what it would be like to own such a . The 4-wheel drive model P85D from Tesla – seen at the Geneva Motor Show 2015 3 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

The new Conti.eContact for Hybrid Vehicles The Conti.eContact mounted at the technology platform plug-in hybrid from Continental

That figure of around 12,000 may not look growing popularity of hybrid solutions will for electric and hybrid vehicles in 2011. The A that started out on a city car with a firm significant at first glance, but it disguises a pave the way for further electrification. After Conti.eContact was developed in the unusual cult following soon spread its wings and within wider truth. Yes, all-electric cars are currently all, its cost/benefit ratio makes sense and it al- 195/55 R 20 size and initially produced in Kor- just a few months it had made it into the luxury experiencing an image problem after the lows drivers to get a taste of electric mobility. bach, Germany. It made its series production class. Last year, for example, Tesla named boom of several years ago, but electrification As one of the most important European OE debut in 2012 on the Twizy, a two- Continental an Excellent Development Partner. is still spreading rapidly. The key here lies with suppliers and an international development seater, out-and-out city car, powered entirely The award from this innovative manufacturer hybrid vehicles that combine a combustion partner, Continental is playing a pioneering by electricity from a domestic power socket. of electrically driven luxury-class vehicles came engine and an electric drive system, and today role in shaping the dynamic growth of electric But this early outing was in 14-inch format, in recognition of the collaboration between even sports cars from the likes of Porsche mobility – with both tires and drive systems. which meant not all the benefits of the tall, the two companies in the development of the and Ferrari feature hybrid drive systems. Hy- slim 20-inch version could be utilized. In 2013 trailblazing Tesla Modell S, the first vehicle in its brid vehicles have comfortably exceeded the A pioneer of electric mobility an international jury of experts presented the segment with a 500-kilometer range. And now, 100,000 mark in Germany alone. And experts Conti.eContact with the coveted iF Design with the latest development advances comple- are expecting electric and hybrid vehicles to Continental presented Europe’s first standard- Award. And that even secured it a place on ted, Continental can supply the Conti.eContact increase their worldwide market share from fitted hybrid system in 2003, and so it is not the bill at CeBit, the world’s largest computer for models such as the BMW 5 ActiveHybrid, four percent today to over 20 percent by 2025. surprising that the Corporation also came expo, in Hanover. Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, Opel Ampera and There is much evidence to suggest that the up with the first tire line specially designed Lexus LS 600h. 4 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

Design tires underline the leading position in the development of tires for original equipment – here on the Audi R8 e-tron

New technologies and processes to protection against , short bra- nation of requirements that the experts at the The rolling resistance of the Conti.eContact is king distances, precise steering responses, Continental development center for tires in around 20 percent below that of a conventio- These high-performance products for cutting- high lateral guidance, excellent traction and Hanover/Stöcken are particularly well equip- nal passenger car tire, something it manages edge electric mobility have to display excep- extremely predictable handling, the tires have ped to handle. After all, the product develop- without compromising on other key perfor- tional abilities; they not only need to impress to deliver extremely low rolling resistance ment focus of the Continental premium brand mance criteria. Credit for this achievement in a wide variety of driving situations but as well. Low rolling resistance increases the has always been on optimizing all safety-re- can be claimed largely by four technological must also make a notable contribution to the vehicle’s operating radius, reduces its energy levant characteristics, while at the same time innovations. Featuring the specially developed range of the vehicles – i.e. the mileage they consumption and therefore also shortens minimizing rolling resistance. Green Chilli compound, the silica compound of can cover between charges. So in addition charging times for the batteries. It is a combi- the Conti.eContact for hybrid vehicles is made 5 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

up in such a way that the internal friction of the filler particles and the polymers is lower than The new Conti.eContact in 17 and 18 inches in conventional rubber compounds. The use of special additives makes for an additional boost in terms of handling properties. With this inno- vative compound, the chemists at Continental have achieved a marked reduction in rolling resistance, while maintaining a high level of performance in terms of handling and braking on dry roads.

With specially configured twin sipes in the tread blocks (hydro-sipes), on wet roads the film of water under the can be broken up by a ‘ wiper’ effect. This thinking by the tread designers enables the water between the surface of the tread blocks and the road to be rapidly dispersed, making for very short braking distances in the wet. The fast dispersion of the water also benefits the tire’s handling in the wet – at low or higher speeds.

Along with the new technologies adopted for designed to generate minimum audible noise the compound and tread design, the sidewalls in the vehicle interior. This is achieved with the of the Conti.eContact have also been redesi- aid of ContiSilent technology. A thin layer of po- gned. In this case the tire designers focused on lyurethane foam attached to the inside of the using AeroFlex technology to minimize wind tread reduces the vibrations that are generated resistance and rolling resistance. As a result, as the tire rolls along the road. This means that less energy is lost when the Conti.eContact less vibration is communicated to the , deflects and rebounds than with a conventio- leading to a lower level of noise in the cabin. nal tire. In addition, turbulence – which likewise uses up drive energy – is also reduced, leading Thanks to the introduction of these new tech- to a further reduction in the tire’s contribution nologies and further enhanced production to fuel consumption. processes, the Conti.eContact is the first Conti- nental product to obtain the top ‘A’ rating on When hybrid vehicles run in electric mode the EU Tire Label for both wet grip and rolling they are virtually silent. Tire noise is no longer resistance, without making substantial compro- drowned out by other sources of noise such mises in terms of the many other performance The Conti.eContact is the first Continental tire on the EU tire label which has the highest rating of Class A, for as a conventional engine, so it is all the more characteristics. Six tire sizes are currently availa- both wet traction and rolling resistance criteria noticeable. Consequently, the Conti.eContact is ble for 17 and 18-inch wheels. 6 #4/2015 ContiTireNews

System supplier and technology leader

At Continental special expertise results from pooling various skills from different areas of the Corporation. As a result, Continental is able to develop and supply tires that work as part of a larger system comprising electric drive as well as components such as recupe- ration-capable braking systems and special turbochargers. Continental’s in-depth under- standing of the various technologies involved enables it to offer solutions tailored to fit each market segment and every market. One brand new product that the Company has come up with is an innovative electric drive system for the rapidly expanding Chinese market, where annual production is predicted to reach 34 million vehicles in 2025. The new system sees the , and power electronics grouped together into a single unit for the first time, which means many compo- nents are no longer required. The system will be unveiled to a wider audience for the first time from September 17 – 27 at the 2015 Inter- national Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt.

For the first time combined in one unit: electric motor, gear and power electronics from Continental