BMW and ZF Friedrichshafen signed a multi-billion-euro provide settlement extending by way of the late 2030s for ZF’s 8-speed automated transmission (8HP). The deal commits each corporations to repeatedly develop the transmission with emphasis on electrified powertrain compatibility. The settlement basically locks in BMW’s transmission sourcing for the following decade whereas giving ZF certainty to spend money on platform evolution.
The 8HP Stays Related
The 8HP transmission has been a workhorse for BMW since its introduction. It’s environment friendly, it’s confirmed, and it’s already in thousands and thousands of automobiles worldwide. Fairly than change it, BMW and ZF are betting that the transmission can evolve to stay aggressive by way of the trade’s ongoing shift towards electrification.
That may sound counterintuitive—why develop a standard transmission when everybody’s speaking about electrical motors and direct drive? As a result of BMW is utilizing the time period “expertise openness.” Whilst BMW shifts towards pure electrical automobiles, the corporate will proceed producing combustion-powered vehicles, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and delicate hybrids for years. These automobiles want transmissions that may deal with the complexities of managing a number of energy sources effectively.
The 8HP’s subsequent technology can be engineered particularly round that problem: delivering the effectivity positive aspects and efficiency wanted in electrified configurations whereas sustaining the reliability and refinement BMW prospects anticipate.
“Along with BMW, we’re sending a powerful sign for innovation, effectivity, and sustainability in an trade present process dynamic change,” mentioned Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF. “This settlement highlights the strategic significance of our 8-speed automated transmission as a key expertise for the transformation of drive techniques.”
The Engineering Problem Forward
Sebastian Schmitt, who heads ZF’s Electrified Drive Applied sciences division, laid out what the 8HP’s evolution really means: three core priorities for the next-generation transmission.
First, effectivity. The 8HP must ship higher gas financial system and decrease emissions in no matter powertrain configuration it’s paired with. That’s at all times true for transmissions, however electrified drivetrains make it extra crucial—wasted power in a PHEV wastes each gas and battery capability.
Second, efficiency. The following-generation 8HP must carry out throughout totally different electrified architectures. A parallel hybrid powertrain works in a different way than a collection hybrid, which works in a different way than a PHEV. The transmission must be versatile sufficient to ship efficiency positive aspects throughout all these configurations.
Third, long-term viability. Laws will change. Market preferences will shift. The 8HP must be engineered right now in a approach that retains it related by way of these adjustments, with out requiring a whole redesign.
In sensible phrases, this deal issues as a result of it means BMW prospects will proceed getting well-engineered transmissions from an organization with deep experience and confirmed reliability. The 8HP is already a identified amount—it really works properly, it’s sturdy, and it integrates seamlessly into BMW’s numerous powertrains.
[Source: ZF]