Continental : Focuses on Reducing Emissions in Commercial Vehicles

• IAA 2014 Hanover: Continental is globally active in creating new technology aimed at reducing emissions and fuel consumption - new localized production in China and the U.S.
• New products: injection pump for medium duty commercial vehicles, innovative sensors, SCR-injectors, and dosing systems
• Complete integration of the exhaust-gas technology specialist Emitec brings important advantages

Regensburg, Hanover, August 27 , 2014. Exhaust-gas aftertreatment is increasingly becoming a key technology in commercial vehicles. In Europe, where the Euro VI standard has been in force since 2014, all new vehicles must have selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to comply with the NOx limits. In China from 2015, commercial vehicles will only be registered if they comply with Euro IV. The international automotive supplier Continental views these decisions as validation of its strategy.

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"With our broad portfolio of innovative components that can be flexibly integrated, we offer commercial-vehicle manufacturers emission solutions with an attractive total cost of ownership," said José Avila, Member of the Continental Executive Board and Head of the Powertrain Division. Continental has achieved global success with control units, sensors, and actuators, as well as SCR technology and diesel particulate filters for commercial vehicles. The basis for Continental's expertise has expanded since the successful integration of Emetic into the company's Powertrain division. Continental fully acquired Emetic in July 2014. The acquisition expanded Continental's offering of complete exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems. "As a result, not only are the information and coordination paths shorter, but synergies also arise that we use for our customers' benefit," said Avila.

Expansion at all levels and in all markets

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The commercial-vehicle emission limits are becoming more stringent worldwide and now require comprehensive in-vehicle solutions. Drawing on its expertise, Continental serves the entire functional chain. From air inlets , mixture formation, and combustion in the engine right up to the outlet after exhaust-gas aftertreatment. Powerful engine control units help to limit even the raw emissions of the engine. Since this measure in the commercial vehicle is no longer sufficient on its own in the era of Euro VI, exhaust-gas monitoring and aftertreatment­ with its numerous components is becoming increasingly important.

Against the background of this growing significance, Continental is also expanding its activities at a regional level. For example, production of NOx sensors is now taking place at a local level in the United States and China. China is also where high-temperature sensors, air control dampers , and exhaust actuators are produced for use in commercial vehicles . In addition, Emitec (which has now been incorporated into the company) is planning on manufacturing dosing systems for AdBlue® metering as part of SCR solutions in the not-too-distant future at its Wuhu site. This is where the dosing pumps currently used by numerous commercial-vehicle manufacturers in China will initially be produced for systems that use air pressure to atomize the AdBlue® reduction agent.

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In Europe, where Euro VI has already been implemented, the focus of development is being placed on optimization strategies. To this end, systems and components are to become smaller, lighter, more efficient, and less complex. The goal of initial approaches is to dose the use of AdBlue® as cost effectively and precisely as possible, and to improve the quality of control during exhaust-gas recirculation. In particular, sensors to monitor the quality of exhaust gas after the catalytic converters, as well as the oxygen content in the intake tract will contribute to this. With regard to exhaust-gas aftertreatment, the focus is on facilitating very high NOx turnover rates in the entire operating range so that the engines can work using as little fuel as possible. This will be achieved by optimizing components, the control unit, and the system configuration of engines and exhaust-gas aftertreatment together.

To achieve future emission limits, increased use will be made of automated transmissions in commercial vehicles. Continental supplies the necessary control units for these automatic transmissions.

Reducing emissions and consumption: product Highlights

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Examples of technology to achieve this optimization will be on display at the IAA. Among the product innovations is a new 2,500-bar fuel-injection pump, which Continental is expanding its portfolio beyond the light-duty range to now include medium-duty commercial-vehicle applications. The new pump has a comparably high level of efficiency, which is achieved by means of the digital inlet valve and the low leakage rate. The successful Continental NOx sensor will also be one of the highlights at the trade fair because it contributes to the accuracy of exhaust-gas monitoring. In addition, 2014 will begin the start of production of the urea sensor. Presented for the first time at the last IAA, this product is designed for the combined recording of urea concentration and fill level. It is an example of a forward-looking development that can be used to ensure less complexity in commercial vehicles.

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Another highlight is the biodiesel sensor. This product detects the biodiesel content in the fuel, which increases the efficiency of combustion and in turn lowers consumption. The sensor can be flexibly calibrated and used worldwide. It also supplies the underlying information required to control the regeneration of the diesel particulate filter more precisely. High-precision Continental SCR injectors will also be on display. These are configured by Emitec for use in commercial vehicles. Even at low exhaust-gas temperatures, very high NOxreduction rates are possible, and this leads to very low NOx emissions overall, as well as the best possible fuel consumption. With regard to exhaust-gas aftertreatment, particular importance is attached to more compact high-power components. As a result, Emitec has developed the dosing system installed in the AdBlue® tank. This features integrated sensor functions and is intended for volume production. Special metal catalytic-converter carriers allow compact installation on the engine so that there is more space on the vehicle frame for fuel and the payload.