Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - February 2021 - 8

TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS

PROPULSION

On the compressor stage, engineers
added a newly designed compressor
wheel, he explained. The package also
features a new way of designing the
compressor housing. " Driving the air
toward the compressor wheel and toward the charger cooler and the diffuser of these housings. So, optimizing
every single part of the air passage,
basically, is really what's new here compared to what we were doing previously, " Cancalon-Luna said.
Garrett's new turbo design allowed
the manufacturer to replace 15 part
numbers from its previous turbo supplier with only three from Garrett. The
new design not only helped reduce
portfolio complexity by eliminating a
dozen part numbers, but it also led to
a smaller packaging requirement, leading to a slimmer hood line.
" What the two-stage solution is really there for is to enable the ultimate
power put on an engine. When you
want to go above and beyond to have
the premium version, the two-stage
solution is the most adequate because
you're basically pushing the boundary
of a traditional wastegate system, "
Cancalon-Luna said. " But again, it really depends on what the application's
emission profile you want to reach and
what the OEM wants to do with its
engine. "

Mahle's hydrogen focus spans fuel cells, ICEs
Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology is
gaining momentum in the mobility sector, with substantial volume expected
by 2025 to 2030, according to Dr.
Marco Warth, director of corporate advanced engineering mechatronics at
Mahle. The iconic cylinder-systems supplier for diesel and gasoline engines is
now a major player in the industry's
investigation of hydrogen as a future
transport fuel. Dr. Warth sees the company's work as laying a cornerstone on
which rests CO2-neutral mobility.
Having established a broad spectrum
of products for fuel cell systems, Mahle
is monitoring potential hydrogen applications for combustion engines. An
R&D project that could be beneficial to
both is a carbon-fiber gaseous hydrogen tank with a plastic liner that would
increase hydrogen storage density and
save production costs.
The Stuttgart, Germany-based company announced in September 2020
an agreement to work with Canadian
fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power
Systems to develop and industrialize
HFCs for commercial vehicles for North
American, European and Asian markets. It recently joined the Hydrogen
Council, a worldwide initiative of leading energy, transport and industrial
companies, all believers in the fuel's
potential. The company will be a mem-

ber of working groups tackling issues
of hydrogen/fuel cell usage and complementary infrastructure suitable for
all HFC vehicle types.
Mahle CEO and chairman Dr. Jörg
Stratmann stated that much work still
needs to be done to industrialize HFC
technology consistently. He sees it also
complementing the internal combustion
engine, hence the company's wider
view of hydrogen application.
Mahle has established a close relationship with Phoenix, Arizona-based Nikola,
developer of HFC- and electric-powered
trucks. It is supplying the vehicles' entire
cooling and air-conditioning systems. As
part of its R&D program, Mahle has revealed what it describes as its
" Competence Center " for mechatronics
at Kornwestheim, near Stuttgart. And at
Fellbach, it has commissioned an all-new
test facility for electric drives. An e-mobility development center is nearing
completion in China.

Common system, standards
needed

To make HFC trucks and passenger vehicles a cost-effective, high-volume alternative to battery propulsion for
Europe, governments and industry have
to resolve " the chicken-and-egg problem " related to refueling infrastructure,
Warth said. HFC technology will become

Mahle is increasing
focus on its ongoing
R&D hydrogen fuel
cell programs for
commercial vehicles
and cars.
FROM TOP: GARRETT MOTION; MAHLE

The advanced
aerodynamic
package includes
a newly designed
compressor wheel
and compressor
housing, Garrett's
Pierre-Jean
Cancalon-Luna
explained.

Jennifer Shuttleworth

8 February 2021

TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - February 2021