Schaeffler to Launch New Hybrid Module in 2017

Schaeffler AG says it will begin volume production of its new P2 high-voltage hybrid drivetrain module next year for four unnamed carmakers. The company previously indicated one of the applications will be for the Chinese market.

Positioned between the engine and transmission, the new P2 parallel hybrid system includes an automated disconnect clutch operated by an electromechanical central clutch. The design optimizes torque flow and can handle as much as 590 lb-ft of twist, Schaeffler says.

Other purported benefits include faster actuation and acceleration, more efficient operation and improved NVH characteristics. The compact system also allows for more packaging flexibility, according to the supplier.

A variation of the P2 module designed for light trucks will be launched in North America by the end of the decade, Schaeffler says. The truck system includes an integrated torque converter.

The P2 system can be adapted for mild-hybrid 48-volt architectures and 300-volt plug-in models. Schaeffler expects 20% of new vehicles sold worldwide in 2020 to have some form of electrification, and it predicts that nearly 10% will be full EVs by 2030.