BorgWarner has announced that its expertise in friction plate design and materials will be used to improve shift performance and efficiency for the ZF full hybrid 8-speed automatic transmission. The parallel hybrid transmission launched in the 2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid Quattro and also will be featured in the Audi A6, A8 and BMW 5-series hybrids.
"BorgWarner’s advanced friction technology delivers improved mechanical stress resistance and exceptional reliability," said Robin Kendrick, president and general manager, BorgWarner Transmission Systems. "Our technology leadership in friction plate design and materials together with ZF’s know-how supports the development of state-of-the-art transmission technology for low-emission vehicles without sacrificing responsiveness and driving comfort. Drivers benefit from enhanced performance while optimizing fuel consumption."
BorgWarner’s leading friction plate technology enables the ZF 8-speed hybrid automatic transmission to shift smoothly between the electric motor and combustion engine. The technology is employed in BorgWarner’s friction plates for the wet separating clutch and the launch clutch. The separating clutch is used to engage and disengage the electric motor for both separate and simultaneous operation of the electric motor and combustion engine. An integrated launch clutch replaces the conventional torque converter and achieves similar launch performance in terms of comfort and thermal load capacity.
For both clutches, BorgWarner said it developed innovative groove designs and uses advanced friction materials for a stable friction coefficient and improved temperature resistance.
