4 suppliers win awards for green innovations
Reprints
Print
Respond
DETROIT -- Four automotive suppliers have received the Automotive News PACE Environmental Award for innovations that contribute to environmental sustainability and solve environmental problems.
The honorees were chosen from the 2011 Automotive News PACE Award winners. The environmental awards were announced at the Automotive News Green Car Conference last week in suburban Detroit.
Award recipients, with summaries of their innovations, follow.
-- Delphi Automotive of suburban Detroit, for Delphi Multec GDi fuel injector.
The Multec gasoline fuel injector provides precise fuel delivery over a wide flow range, atomization without errant injections caused by valve bounce, and low noise.
-- Federal-Mogul Corp. of Bur-scheid, Germany, and suburban Detroit, for Low-Friction LKZ Oil Ring.
The LKZ oil ring on the piston combines a stepped surface and taper on the contacting edge. This creates less pressure on the cylinder wall and more down-stroke scraping. Less oil enters the combustion chamber, reducing oil consumption by up to half from a conventional ring. A special coating reduces friction by up to 15 percent.
-- Honeywell Turbo Technologies of Torrance, Calif., for Honeywell DualBoost Turbocharger for medium-duty diesel engines.
Two compressor wheels on one shaft provide the benefits of a twin turbo in a smaller, lighter package.
-- Robert Bosch GmbH of Stuttgart, Germany, for Bosch P2 Parallel Full Hybrid System.
Bosch's hybrid control system, which defies convention by using one computer unit instead of two, solves driveability issues that arise when a hybrid switches from electric propulsion to an internal combustion engine and back. This system preserves off-road capability for the electric vehicle and keeps its towing capacity, too.
PACE, which stands for Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence, celebrates and honors innovation by automotive suppliers.
You can reach James B. Treece at jtreece@crain.com.
