Local 6-speed & 'mild-hybrid' automatics

[nota]

(taken non-verbatim from The Australian newspaper 26/5/06)

Australia's motor industry is about to enter the hybrid era, with a locally developed electro-mechanical transmission set to crack open the Chinese and Korean markets

Albury-based Drivetrain Systems International, which arose from the ashes of Ion Automotive in February, claims its hybrid transmission can lower fuel consumption by 25%

A prototype is being assessed by one Asian manufacturer for adoption in its next generation of SUVs and the unit will be production-ready by 2008

DSI engineering director Bernie Wirz said three hybrid vehicles has been built for evaluation and the system would be displayed at next month's Seoul Motor Show. "It's achieved all the performance targets in terms of launch feel and fuel economy and we are awaiting a production decision from a major customer"

He declined to say whether any of Australia's car-makers had shown interest in the hybrid driveline and said the company was seeking to broaden its base away from the local industry. "Our growth market is Asia. There's a whole range of potential clients and two effective clients"

Industry sources say DSI has demonstrated the hybrid transmission to several vehicle makers, including delegations from Korea. They say sales to Chinese car-makers will be handled by the Hong Kong based Ming-he Automotive Parts & Technology, a shareholder in DSI which is demonstrating its products to Chinese car-makers. DSI was formed by managers of the former Ion transmission plant, Australian investors and Ming-he. DSI took over Ion's transmission factory in Albury, its research centre in Melbourne and its warranty centre in Korea

The hybrid is based on a new six-speed automatic transmission due for introduction next year, but uses an electric motor in place of the conventional transmission's torque converter

The hybrid's electric motor replaces a conventional starter and can also act as a brake and generate electricity by slowing the vehicle. It combines with a 240 volt nickel metal hydride or lithium battery to form a "mild" hybrid system that can be incorporated into conventional vehicle design. The hybrid prototype has recorded 30% faster acceleration from standstill and up to 25% reduction in fuel use, compared with the same vehicle using a conventional transmission. Both the hybrid and conventional six-speed transmissions are compatible with RWD and AWD, making them suitable for large cars as well as SUVs

The Albury factory currently makes 134,000 transmissions a year for Ford Australia and Korean maker Ssangyong, but DSI plan to expand production to 180,000 by the end of the decade. Mr Wirz said contracts to build four-speed transmissions has recently been extended until 2009, meaning it would run alongside the new six-speed transmission, which goes into production next year

The six-speed has been designed for torque outputs of up to 400Nm and would be compatible with tiptronic-style manual shifting. A FWD version of the six-speed was under development, with production planned for 2009

nb: a torque capacity of 400Nm isn't that much, but could .. just .. handle our local non-turbo six-cylinders, eg Falcon 4.0 litre etc

[adrenaline]

The falcons got 380nm right now, and the commodore much less, so 400 aint bad.

[Blue Supra]

30% acceleration and 25% less fuel... why isnt this thing being snapped up?!? sounds too good to be true!

[2ndclasscitizen]

Any info on how an electric motor would work in place of a torque converter? Is the idea supposed to be that the electric motor is used to move the car off, then the engine kicks in once moving?

[SlickHolden]

All i wanna know is how fast it goes from 0-100 and how much i can save in the wallet

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by ADRENALINE

The falcons got 380nm right now, and the commodore much less, so 400 aint bad.

The ZF that goes on the Fairmont and XR6 is rated at 450nm, and the T6/V8 version's 600nm, so its getting there.

I wonder though if it was Ford or SsangYong that extended the 4spd contract.

Heres some wishful thinking though, imagine this hybrid transmission attached to a hybrid diesel....imagine the torque from that...