Bosch Clutch Eliminates Stalling for Manual Gearbox

Robert Bosch GmbH says its new eClutch eliminates two familiar problems in cars equipped with manual transmissions: the possibility of stalling the engine during startup or when coming to a stop.

Bosch claims its technology, which also smooths shifts between gears, can boost fuel economy 5%-10%.

The eClutch system works with a manual transmission's conventional clutch pedal and gear shifter. But it electronically manages clutch engagement at startup. It also automatically releases the clutch when the vehicle comes to a stop without requiring the driver to depress the clutch pedal.

The Bosch system replaces the standard, pedal-actuated clutch master cylinder with an electric unit. Sensors monitor engine speed and vehicle speed, modulating master cylinder operation to prevent engine stalling and smoothing gear-to-gear shifts.