Bosch’s Motorsports Expertise Drives Hybrid Innovation in Passenger Cars
The world of motorsports often serves as a proving ground for automotive technology. Innovations like disc brakes, fuel injection, and active suspension, initially developed to enhance the performance and safety of race cars, eventually found their way into everyday vehicles. Now, a major automotive supplier is looking to apply its race-honed expertise to the burgeoning hybrid car market.
Visitors visit the booth of Bosch Group at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai, China. (CFOTO/Getty Images)
According to Automotive News, Robert Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier, is drawing inspiration from its involvement in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) SportsCar Championship. The company aims to adapt its technology for use in mainstream passenger vehicles. Bosch currently holds the exclusive contract to provide hybrid power systems for the GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) class, a division featuring some of the most powerful cars built for grueling endurance races like the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura Motorsports ARX-06 in action. (Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Bosch supplies teams from Cadillac, Lamborghini, Porsche, Acura, and BMW with the core components needed to transform their high-performance, gasoline-powered race cars into hybrids. These components include inverters, electronic braking systems, and hybrid control units, designed to give race teams a competitive edge. The Bosch system contributes up to 230 horsepower, a significant boost when exiting the pit lane. With over 350,000 race miles and 650,000 miles of combined racing and testing experience, Bosch is confident its track-tested technology is ready for adaptation in the broader auto industry. “Every lap is an opportunity to propose a new improvement or extend the limit just a little bit further on the technology,” noted Jacob Bergenske, Bosch Motorsport Director, in an interview with AutoNews.
Cadillac racing during the 24 hours of Le Mans. (DeFodi Images/Getty Images)
Mohammad Fatouraie, Bosch’s director of systems engineering, indicated that the company is adapting race-derived hybrid systems for use in consumer vehicles. Automakers view Bosch as a crucial provider of hybrid components. “We are not looking at the individual component. We’re not a components supplier. We are a holistic systems provider,” Fatouraie explained. “By knowing the whole system, you can right-size your component. You can increase the efficiency of the whole system but not over-sizing or undersizing the component.” By collaborating with manufacturers on hybrid systems, Bosch aims to create more efficient and cost-effective solutions. This approach aims to reduce development costs for automakers. These savings can potentially be passed on to consumers, making hybrids more financially appealing to buyers. Fatouraie said, “If you’re decreasing the cost for the end consumer, you can increase the uptake of these technologies.”
Hybrids Gain Momentum in the Automotive Market
Bosch’s move comes at a time when several automakers are reevaluating their electric vehicle strategies, with many shifting focus towards expanding their hybrid offerings. This technology, which has been around for over two decades, has proven successful for companies like Honda. The Japanese automaker recently unveiled a hybrid version of its popular Civic model, which they expect to constitute around 40% of the nameplate’s sales this year. Currently, hybrid models total a quarter of the automaker’s total sales, led by hybrid versions of their popular Accord sedan and CR-V SUV.
While some automakers are embracing hybrids, others are exploring alternatives. After a recent trip to China, Ford CEO Jim Farley suggested that EREVs (Extended Range Electric Vehicles) might be a viable option, particularly in the US. “EREVs in the U.S. could be 120 miles of all-electric, and they drive like EVs,” Farley stated. “They don’t drive like combustion engine vehicles, so you get an EV, and you have 700 miles of range. You don’t have range anxiety for a long trip. You don’t have to rely on any charges. And those vehicles have half the batteries, so they’re very profitable.”
