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Electrified transmissions to become the preferred choice for premium OEMs

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan predicts that electrified transmissions will experience increased penetration in both European and North American regions due to the increased focus on hybrid vehicles and their positive impact on emissions and fuel economy. However, end-user preference for automatic transmissions (AT) in North America and for manual transmissions (MT) in Europe will dictate the market penetration of the type of transmission technology with integrated electric motors.
June 21, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSNew analysis from Frost & Sullivan predicts that electrified transmissions will experience increased penetration in both European and North American regions due to the increased focus on hybrid vehicles and their positive impact on emissions and fuel economy. However, end-user preference for automatic transmissions (AT) in North America and for manual transmissions (MT) in Europe will dictate the market penetration of the type of transmission technology with integrated electric motors.

The Electrification of Transmissions in Europe and North America study finds that the electrified transmissions market sales are set to grow to 1.3 million units in the North American and European markets by 2017. AT will be the prime choice for electrification, followed by dual-clutch transmissions (DCT), although the electric drive axle systems (EDAS) will prove to be a tough competitor.

“The demand for lower emissions and increased fuel economy has sharpened the focus on hybrid vehicles,” says Frost & Sullivan senior research analyst Bharath Kumar Srinivasan. “While the integrated technology solutions are driven by the hybrid market itself, the technologies being quick and simple solutions, offer original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) an easier way to hybridise the vehicles without making too many modifications to the engine, chassis and vehicle as a whole.”

In North America, the electrification of automatic transmissions (ATs) will suit the transmission manufacturer as there is no necessity to modify manufacturing setups of ATs; replacing the torque converter with an electric motor offers improved results. On the other hand, driving patterns and dynamics particular to Europe have led to the emergence of both transmission electrification and EDAS systems, which will vie for the top spot in Europe.

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