PSA Peugeot Citroën and Robert Bosch GmbH Enter Strategic Partnership for Diesel Hybrids

9 December 2008

Bosch develops a range of hybrid technologies and components, including battery, electric drive, brake management, engine management and transmission controls as well as electric motors, the necessary power electronics, and DC/DC converters. Click to enlarge.



PSA Peugeot Citroën and Robert Bosch GmbH have agreed to a strategic partnership for diesel hybrid technology. The recently signed agreement calls for Bosch to co-develop, industrialize and supply electric motors and power electronics for PSA Peugeot Citroën’s four-wheel-drive diesel hybrid powertrain.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show on the Peugeot Prologue and Citroën Hypnos concept cars (earlier post) , this diesel hybrid technology will equip Peugeot and Citroën vehicles starting in 2011.

As part of the agreement, Bosch will supply the rear electric motor, the front-mounted high voltage alternator and the power electronics that will control them. In addition, Bosch will deliver to PSA Peugeot Citroën specifications the interface between the electric and electronic components, the antilock braking system (ABS) and the electronic stability program (ESP) to enhance energy recovery.

Bosch develops high-performance electric motors which deliver up to 50 kW which can be integrated in the drivetrain of a hybrid vehicle.



PSA said that diesel hybrid technology is a key focus of its environmental strategy, and that developing and industrializing this technology is a major challenge for the carmaker. By choosing a core partner, PSA Peugeot Citroën said it is paving the way to rapid market introduction of hybrid diesel vehicles in Europe.

This stronger collaboration between the partners’ engineering and design teams will optimize the hybrid powertrain’s operation while speeding the acquisition of mutual expertise in this area, which is expected to expand rapidly in the next few years.

The carmaker said that it believes this is the right approach for bringing to market quickly and cost effectively technological innovations that can significantly lower CO2 emissions. PSA Peugeot Citroën also hopes that this agreement will strengthen the European hybrid technology industry.

For Bosch, the close cooperation with PSA Peugeot Citroen offers a promising opportunity to jointly develop an innovative, powerful and competitive hybrid system. Within the Bosch group, the expertise of roughly 370 associates is pooled in a hybrid project unit, whose purpose is to develop and market systems and components for hybrid and electrical vehicles.