Continental Fuel Pump and Active Gas Pedal Nominated for 2011 PACE Awards

Two innovations by international automotive supplier Continental have reached the finals in the race for the 2011 PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers Contribution to Excellence) awards bestowed by Automotive News. Making the cut for the coveted prize are first off, the EC (Electronic Commutation) demand-regulated, collector-free fuel pumps designed by the Powertrain Division, which cut down on CO2 emissions. The other front runner is the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP®) from the Chassis & Safety Division. It warns drivers of hazardous situations immediately, while consuming up to seven percent less fuel. Continental is the first automotive supplier to bring both of these technologies to market in mass production. The awards will be presented in Detroit on April 11, 2011.

Demand-regulated pumps help save fuel
Fuel pumps that deliver only as much fuel to the engine as needed save up to 70 percent of the electrical energy that conventional constant-flow pumps require. Continental has devised a demand-regulated fuel-flow system consisting of an electronic control and an electronic commutation pump. Electronic communication (EC) replaces mechanical coil commutation, meaning it dispenses with conventional carbon-collector commutation. The pump is housed in the fuel tank and is suited for use with gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Among its many advantages, the robust fuel pump’s electronic controls make it possible to switch to low-wear, brushless motors, thus increasing service life. The design also consumes up to 70 percent less energy than conventional pumps with constant flow.

An increase in the efficiency of the new EC motor permits energy savings of up to 10 percent over systems that employ conventional direct-current motors. Switching to EC technology also results in a 0.3 gram CO2 reduction for gasoline, and 0.5 gram reduction for diesel engines. Emissions even drop to 2 grams of CO2 per kilometer in comparison to constant-flow pumps, a considerable reduction in view of strict limits that make every gram of carbon dioxide emission count. “The electronic controls on demand-regulated fuel feed offer still more advantages,” says Dr. Markus Distelhoff, head of Fuel Supply at Continental’s Powertrain Division. Among them are the fuel pump’s reliability, heightened flexibility for use with a wide array of fuels including bio-ethanol (E100), and an electronic network that permits the use of vehicle and engine data to drive the fuel pump, depending on the operating situation. Additional options include non-contact sensor techniques to gauge fuel level, a pump able to diagnose itself and an economical solution to leaks built into the electronic controls.

AFFP® warns drivers and indicates the ideal shift point
Continental’s Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP®) is the world’s first interactive gas pedal. It is able to warn drivers of impending dangers and it can assist them in driving in the most economical manner possible. “AFFP® provides feedback directly to the driver’s foot, either by means of a slight double twitch or pressure. Tests have shown that drivers perceive these signals much better than warning lights or acoustical signals,” says Peter Laier, head of Chassis Components in Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division. This connection between driver and vehicle, known as a Human Machine Interface (HMI), can signal drivers when the ideal shift point has been attained, allowing fuel savings of over seven percent. At the mechanical heart of the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal is an electric motor connected directly to the gas pedal, capable of generating feedback in the form of resistance. Automobile manufacturers can employ AFFP® in whichever way they want, choosing from a variety of signals and pedal intensities. AFFP® may be installed in any kind of vehicle, is suitable for either suspended or floor-mounted pedals, and is also suitable for use in commercial vehicles.

Continental a multiple PACE-Award recipient
The winners will be feted in Detroit on April 11, 2011. The trade publication Automotive News originated the awards, presenting them for the first time in 1994. PACE stands for Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence. The PACE awards honor the efforts of automotive suppliers to meet the challenge of steadily mounting quality demands on the part of manufacturers and customers. The award sets standards for innovation and quality and is one of the most coveted distinctions among automotive suppliers. Continental has been a multiple recipient in years past, most recently cited for its intelligent nitrous oxide (NOx) sensor in 2010. The company won the prize in 2008 for its direct gasoline-injection system while 2005 saw awards for the color heads-up display for passenger cars and the cost-cutting manufacturing process for Deka VII injector nozzles. The Piezo common-rail injection system for diesels received a PACE award in 2003 while the convenient Keyless Go locking system took the honors in 2000.