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Continental
Continental
Continental develops intelligent technol-
ogies for transporting people and their
goods. As a reliable partner, the interna-
tional automotive supplier, tire manufac-
turer, and industrial partner provides sus-
tainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and
affordable solutions. In 2014, the corpo-
ration generated sales of approximately
€34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chas-
sis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and
ContiTech. Continental currently employs
more than 208,000 people in 53 countries.
The Powertrain division develops and pro-
duces efficient system solutions for vehicle
powertrains to optimize fuel consumption.
The comprehensive range of products in-
cludes gasoline and diesel injection systems,
engine management and transmission
control, including sensors and actuators,
exhaust aftertreatment technologies, fuel
supply systems, and components and sys-
tems for hybrid and electric drives. Power-
train employs over 34,500 people world-
wide. In 2014, it recorded sales of approxi-
mately €6.5 billion.
Power Electronics
When it comes to hybrid and electric ve-
hicles, there appear to be many seem-
ingly straightforward general assump-
tions. The range of the electric drive is
determined by the battery; its accelera-
tion characteristics by the electric motor.
Yet in both cases, there is another de-
cisive factor: the efficiency of the entire
electric drive system – and this is deter-
mined primarily by the power electron-
ics. This electronic system, which controls
both the power as well as the energy re-
covery (recuperation), has a major influ-
ence here. It is also responsible for fully
utilizing the potential of the electric drive,
thereby making it fun to drive, which is
caused in part by the high starting torque
and the response behavior of electric mo-
tors. Continental, innovation driver in e-
mobility for over ten years, is already in
series production with the second gener-
ation of power electronics.
In addition to the functionality and ef-
ficiency of the power electronics, the
space requirements and weight are im-
portant criteria for automotive manu-
facturers. Therefore the power to size
ratio of Continental’s power electron-
ics has been improved continuously. The
third generation is six times more pow-
erful than the first generation while the
system weight has been reduced from
around 12 kg originally to around 8 kg in
the same time. This includes the inverter
which supplies the motor with electricity
and the DC/DC converter which supplies
the 12 Volt boardnet.
Third generation of Continental’s Power Electronics –
Inverter and DC/DC Converter in a single housing
Power Electronics integrated into axle drive system
