With all the development in automotive technology from manufacturers focussing on fuel efficiency, engine downsizing and silly niche-exploration, it’s easy to perceive a neglect of other aspects of motoring that are actually undergoing significant upgrade and development all the time. Drivetrains, for example, have changed hugely in recent years with the percentage of manual versus automatic or dual-clutch transmissions swaying significantly towards the latter.
The driving force in such an instance are the automotive component suppliers who are streamlining production and making such automotive technologies cheaper and more accessible for wholesale adoption. ZF for example, with their brilliant eight and nine-speed transmissions are supplying tech to Jaguar/Land Rover, Chrysler/Jeep and BMW. And what about component specialists, Bosch, with ever improving traction control and vehicle dynamic control systems and software.
Bosch have recently developed a new electronic clutch system, and they hope it will alter the way average motorists think about and use the traditional manual gearbox – making the whole exercise more efficient and more like an automatic transmission in the process. Bosch’s new ‘eClutch’ claims to finally deliver the best of both worlds when it comes to the involvement of a manual gearbox and the convenience and ease of use an automatic.
Bosch claims the benefits of their eClutch are better fuel consumption, easier use in stop-start driving and compatibility with hybrid systems to make electric-assisted hybrid powertrains more appealing and cheaper. The technology specialist says the eClutch is ‘significantly’ cheaper to produce than an automatic. A big benefit is that the Bosch eClutch can disengage the driveline when the driver isn’t using the throttle and coast along the freeway. And In stop-start city driving, the Bosch eClutch will activate automatically, allowing the driver to select first gear and then operate the brake and throttle pedals only.
You won’t lose the clutch pedal but electronic signals replacing cable and hydraulic systems and Bosch says the system almost completely eliminates jerky gear changes and engine-stalling a thing of the past. Watch this product video from Bosch to get a better idea of what they’re talking about:
