The beginning of 2022 will see a new figure at the head of Bosch with CEO Volkmar Denner stepping down to become a scientific adviser focused on the company’s research into quantum technology. As announced during the summer, the new man in charge will be current automotive unit head Stefan Hartung.
Denner’s legacy will most likely been deemed a success having overseen a transition from industrial powerhouse to technological hub that can connect everything from car parts to refrigerators power tools to the web. It should also close a near-decade of controversy over the extent of the company’s alleged abetting role in the so-called Diesel-gate scandal.
September’s IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, then, is a step forwards between two eras with the company promising solutions for cars, e-bikes, motorcycles, scooters, electric race cars.
Indeed, Bosch is promising to roll out mobility solutions for all types of vehicles, and is even making smartphones and people’s homes an integral part of mobility. Welcome to a new era and the sense we could be finally seeing fully realised solutions for personalised, automated, connected, and electrified mobility.
Headlining will be the Bosch show car. In the future, more and more vehicles will be electrically powered. They will increasingly be connected with other road users and their surroundings, assume more and more of the driving task themselves, and provide personalized services for their occupants. Bosch technology for automated, electrified, personalised, and connected mobility is paving the way for this future vision of mobility. The company has the systems know-how and comprehensive software and hardware expertise that this requires. 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.
Driverless parking will also be a major focus and Bosch and its nine project partners will present the future of parking in a live demonstration. In the automated valet parking system developed jointly by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz, a smartphone command 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. 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 maneuvers.
Bosch will also be showcasing new connected-biking solutions and allowing visitors to see for themselves just how much fun power-assisted cycling can be. Riding an electrically assisted bike is good for people’s health and the environment – as well as a lot of fun (well, according to Bosch). Connected products and services enhance the cycling experience and connect e-bikers with the digital world.
Bosch wants to be a key player in climate-neutral mobility. The company has set itself the goal of making all vehicle classes ready for upcoming emissions requirements. As an innovation leader, Bosch has a broader electric driving portfolio than any other company – from e-bikes to passenger cars to heavy trucks.
Battery-electric power for two- and four-wheeled vehicles: From powertrains to steering systems to brakes, Bosch’s portfolio includes 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 with its pre-integrated system solutions for vehicle platforms, Bosch helps automakers bring electric vehicles to market faster than before.
The key is the optimised interaction of the powertrain, steering, braking, and vehicle control in the advanced driving module, which is combined with partner solutions to form a complete axle module for the front and rear axles. Alongside efficient powertrains, Bosch also uses thermal management to increase the range of electric and hybrid vehicles. Precise control of currents of hot and cold air improves the efficiency of the battery and ensures that all components are working within their optimum temperature range. Bosch also offers drives and control units for electric two-wheelers. Integrated in a compact system, the two components ensure precise control of the motor, reliable riding performance, and optimum torque development.
Mobile fuel cells offer long ranges and short refuelling times but where they really come into their own is on long-haul routes and in commercial vehicles. With green hydrogen, fuel cells enable vehicles to be operated CO2-free. 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 the 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.
The company will also showcase its services for electromobility including its Battery in the Cloud system which prolongs the life of electric car 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 wants to make 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.
