CO₂-efficient drives

Low-emission internal combustion engines

Part of GNFK StartTo ensure low-emission and energy-efficient operation of internal combustion engines, the Schaeffler Group develops technologies to reduce friction throughout the entire powertrain. These engines reduce fuel consumption, e.g. with innovative rolling bearings on balance shafts. Another focus is on optimizing variable valve train systems. The goal is to always provide the optimum amount of air at each operating point in the cylinder and thus reduce CO₂ and harmful emissions. The company also supports research on synthetic fuels produced by using renewable energy sources. Since no fossil energy sources are used, these “synfuels” should also be able to power combustion engines in a CO₂ neutral manner in the future.Part of GNFK End

As part of the publicly funded “GasOn” program, the company made a significant contribution to the development of an internal combustion engine that runs on compressed natural gas, which reduces CO₂ by more than 25 % in the drive cycle. This means that the vehicle equipped with this engine already meets future emission limits today.

Electric vehicle innovations

Part of GNFK StartThe company also offers its customers innovations and development expertise in the area of electric mobility on both a system and component level. Examples include the electric axle drives, which are already in series production and have set a new benchmark in the market for the output density of electric transmissions. The Schaeffler Group covers many areas of electrification with its products, from mild hybridization to all-electric driving.Part of GNFK End

Part of GNFK StartSeries production of the modular and highly integrated electric motors unveiled at IAA 2019 will start in 2021 for a variety of customer projects around the world. The range of applications of the electric motors designed for efficiency and reliability ranges from hybrid modules and dedicated hybrid transmissions (DHT) to electric motors for electric axle drives with voltage levels between 48 and 800 V and power classes from 15 to over 300 kW.

The focus on electric mobility is also reflected in revenue development in the business division E-Mobility. Despite the worsened economic situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, revenues fell only slightly from EUR 681 m in 2019 to EUR 657 m in 2020.¹⁾Part of GNFK End

The future of hydrogen

Renewable energies are fundamentally changing the entire energy and mobility sector. Yet while electricity from wind, sunlight, and hydropower is becoming increasingly affordable, availability fluctuates and is unequally distributed around the world. As a universal energy source that is both storable and transportable, hydrogen plays a decisive role.

Part of GNFK StartTo ensure that hydrogen can be used in sufficient quality around the world, the Schaeffler Group has developed key components for fuel cells. Components for electrolyzers, which represent a cornerstone of the “green” hydrogen energy chain, are also viewed as another promising field of the future.

Thanks to its traditional core areas of expertise in metalworking, material sciences, and high-precision thin-film technology, the company is well-positioned for this and other hydrogen technologies. A decision was made in September 2020 to expand these capabilities and bundle them in a hydrogen competence center at the Herzogenaurach location.

The company is also actively involved in new regional, national and international networks that are devoted to developing the global hydrogen economy. The Schaeffler Group has been a guiding member of the global “Hydrogen Council” since 2020. The international initiative consists of 109 leading companies (as of January 2021) from the energy, transport and industrial sectors, and aims to further advance the establishment of hydrogen technology on a global scale.Part of GNFK End

1) Previous year’s figures according to the segment structure reported in 2020.