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Stellantis Group announced the acquisition of the entire minority stake previously held by Punch Powertrain in the joint venture established in 2018 by Stellantis Group and Punch Powertrain, a Belgian multinational company specializing in the production of transmissions and powertrains for the automotive sector. Stellantis Group now fully controls the transmission company.
The decision directly concerns the plants in Metz (France) and the Mirafiori production complex in Turin (Italy), where the former joint venture for the production of eDCT transmissions, an advanced electrified automatic transmission, operates. The unique transmission allows for a hybrid powertrain thanks to a 21 kW electric motor already integrated into this automatic robotic dual-clutch transmission. The electric motor provides drive when low power and moderate torque are required: for example, during slow city driving, when parking, and when driving at constant speeds. The electrified eDCT transmission thus converts a conventionally powered vehicle into a hybrid and allows the internal combustion engine to remain switched off during slow city driving or parking. The innovative eDCT transmission also has other advantages: reduced weight (compared to a similar automatic transmission and/or hybrid system), optimization of production costs, positive impact on fuel economy, and reduction of harmful exhaust emissions.
Stellantis' decision to directly manage the development and production of the innovative eDCT transmission is perfectly aligned with the Group's strategic plan to expand and update its range of models with MHEV hybrid and PHEV hybrid technologies.
eDCT transmission: a modern electrification solution and the path to the system HYBRID 48V
The innovative 6-speed robotic eDCT gearbox is a key component for creating hybrid powertrains for Stellantis cars based on existing petrol engines – first of all, we are talking about the 3 PureTech 1.2-cylinder petrol turbo engine. If you add an electrified eDCT automatic gearbox, a control unit and a traction battery with an operating voltage of 48 volts (Li-Ion 48V), then in this case it is possible to provide power to the electric motor and the possibility of its autonomous operation. Such a system is called HYBRID 48V and only at first glance resembles MHEV hybrids (or “mild hybrids”) found on other cars. However, in fact, the HYBRID 48V system has significant differences that turn into its key advantages!
Firstly, the eDCT automatic robotic gearbox has a built-in electric motor with a capacity of 21 kW (or 29 hp) and a torque of 55 Nm: this is enough not only to assist the main petrol engine when starting from a standstill, but also to ensure that the car moves without using the petrol engine at all - only thanks to the electric drive. Secondly, thanks to the use of the 6-speed automatic robotic gearbox eDCT with double clutches, it is possible to completely disconnect the internal combustion engine from the powertrain, which is again done to ensure that the car moves without using the petrol engine at all - only thanks to the electric drive.
Thus, the HYBRID 48V system and the 6-speed eDCT robotic gearbox with a built-in electric motor make it possible to transform a car with a conventional internal combustion engine into a hybrid car with all the advantages and capabilities. For example…
Unique features of cars with the system HYBRID 48V and innovative transmission eDCT
The most important advantage of the HYBRID 48V system is the ability to drive the car exclusively on electric power, without using the internal combustion engine. This occurs under certain conditions - low speed, smooth acceleration, unnecessary high power and dynamics, sufficient battery charge - but even taking into account all these conditions, the HYBRID 48V system and the electrified eDCT transmission can ensure movement in urban conditions exclusively on electricity: this is parking, leaving the yard of the house, slow movement in traffic jams, etc. The maximum distance that can be covered exclusively on electric power is about 1 km.
The next important advantage follows from the above - the ability to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of harmful exhaust gases when driving in the city. For example, the reduction in CO2 emissions can be up to -22% for passenger cars with a gasoline engine of similar power and an automatic transmission, or up to -15% for C-class SUV crossovers under similar conditions. Accordingly, one can expect a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption. If we take, for example, B-C-class cars from the Stellantis Concern, for which the HYBRID 48V system is being implemented, then fuel economy can reach up to 2,5 liters per 100 km in city conditions and about 1,5 liters per 100 km in combined driving conditions.
Another unique feature and advantage is recuperation during deceleration. After all, it is thanks to recuperation that it is possible to charge the battery of the HYBRID 48V hybrid system: everything happens automatically and independently, it is a completely self-charging system, the motorist does not need to think about periodic charging of the battery from an external source. In addition, recuperation allows you to get a certain deceleration even without using the car's brakes, which reduces the intensity of their use and wear - accordingly, the brake pads and discs will last longer.
Finally, it is worth noting other advantages provided by the HYBRID 48V system and the electrified eDCT transmission: support for the gasoline engine when starting from a standstill, additional power during dynamic acceleration, traction maintenance by the electric motor when changing gears in the transmission, the hybrid system battery is also used to power other on-board systems of the car, which contributes to additional comfort.
Using the transmission eDCT in models that are already on sale or will soon be sold in Ukraine
In accordance with the global strategic plan of the Stellantis Concern, the HYBRID 48V hybrid system with the electrified eDCT transmission will become an alternative for some internal combustion engines paired with automatic transmissions - we are talking about the 1.2 PureTech 130 automatic-8 petrol engine, as well as the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 automatic-8 diesel engine.
Using the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine as a basis and adding the HYBRID 48V system with an electrified 6-speed eDCT transmission to it, as of today, it has been possible to create two versions of power units with different power outputs – 1.2 PureTech HYBRID 48V 100 (100 hp and 205 Nm) or 1.2 PureTech HYBRID 48V 136 (136 hp and 230 Nm).
The replacement of power units will occur gradually, with the release of new models or the launch of updated versions of already known models. In accordance with the trends of the pan-European market, more and more cars of various brands from the Stellantis Concern with the HYBRID 48V system and the electrified eDCT transmission have already appeared in Ukraine or will appear over time.
Visit the official websites of Stellantis Brands in Ukraine – PEUGEOT, CITROЁN, OPEL, JEEP, DS Automobiles – and learn more about high-tech automotive innovations!
