BMW and ZF Friedrichshafen signed a multi-billion-euro provide settlement extending by means of the late 2030s for ZF’s 8-speed computerized transmission (8HP). The deal commits each corporations to constantly develop the transmission with emphasis on electrified powertrain compatibility. The settlement basically locks in BMW’s transmission sourcing for the following decade whereas giving ZF certainty to spend money on platform evolution.
The 8HP Stays Related
The 8HP transmission has been a workhorse for BMW since its introduction. It’s environment friendly, it’s confirmed, and it’s already in tens of millions of autos worldwide. Relatively than exchange it, BMW and ZF are betting that the transmission can evolve to stay aggressive by means of the trade’s ongoing shift towards electrification.
That may sound counterintuitive—why develop a conventional transmission when everybody’s speaking about electrical motors and direct drive? As a result of BMW is utilizing the time period “know-how openness.” Whilst BMW shifts towards pure electrical autos, the corporate will proceed producing combustion-powered vehicles, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and delicate hybrids for years. These autos want transmissions that may deal with the complexities of managing a number of energy sources effectively.
The 8HP’s subsequent era will likely be engineered particularly round that problem: delivering the effectivity beneficial properties and efficiency wanted in electrified configurations whereas sustaining the reliability and refinement BMW prospects anticipate.
“Along with BMW, we’re sending a robust sign for innovation, effectivity, and sustainability in an trade present process dynamic change,” mentioned Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF. “This settlement highlights the strategic significance of our 8-speed computerized transmission as a key know-how for the transformation of drive methods.”
The Engineering Problem Forward
Sebastian Schmitt, who heads ZF’s Electrified Drive Applied sciences division, laid out what the 8HP’s evolution really means: three core priorities for the next-generation transmission.
First, effectivity. The 8HP must ship higher gasoline economic system and decrease emissions in no matter powertrain configuration it’s paired with. That’s all the time true for transmissions, however electrified drivetrains make it extra vital—wasted power in a PHEV wastes each gasoline and battery capability.
Second, efficiency. The subsequent-generation 8HP must carry out throughout completely different electrified architectures. A parallel hybrid powertrain works otherwise than a sequence hybrid, which works otherwise than a PHEV. The transmission must be versatile sufficient to ship efficiency beneficial properties throughout all these configurations.
Third, long-term viability. Rules will change. Market preferences will shift. The 8HP must be engineered in the present day in a method that retains it related by means of these adjustments, with out requiring a whole redesign.
In sensible phrases, this deal issues as a result of it means BMW prospects will proceed getting well-engineered transmissions from an organization with deep experience and confirmed reliability. The 8HP is already a identified amount—it really works properly, it’s sturdy, and it integrates seamlessly into BMW’s varied powertrains.
[Source: ZF]
