Continental gears up for stricter emission and safety standard for 2Ws

Tier 1 supplier, technology company Continental has announced that it gearing up for demand required for the broad range of technical services for small engine two- and three-wheeler vehicles, which is driven globally by politics, industry, trade, environmental associations and consumers in terms of mobility.

According to the company the motorised two-wheelers are not just seen as recreational vehicles in Asia, but rather as essential means of transportation for a large percentage of the population. The large-volume markets – India and China – in particular are implementing stricter exhaust gas and safety regulations for many different vehicle categories and demanding customised, flexible and specific solutions, especially for single-cylinder vehicles in displacement classes below 150cc (cubic centimetres).

The two-wheeler vehicle experts at Continental are focused on technical solutions for engine and exhaust gas management to provide a cleaner environment, along with offering added safety for drivers of two-wheeler vehicles through highly functional assistance systems. The company citing the example of India, states that 95.5 percent of total traffic accidents involve motorised vehicles, with 2Ws being involved in more traffic accidents than any other vehicle category (28.8 percent) of total accidents in 2015.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5.6 of every 100,000 people in India die from an accident with a 2W vehicle, and in China it is somewhat lower at 5.1 deaths per 100,000. In Germany, in comparison, the number is 0.8 per 100,000 people.

The company states its ‘ARAS’ (Advanced Rider Assistance systems) supports the driver’s traffic perception in complex driving situations, increasing driving safety. The modular design used for all of the systems allows engineers to offer customised solutions for both everyday and commercial small-engine vehicles – called commuter vehicles –for different markets, as well as trade and legal regulations worldwide.

Modular Engine Management: Efficient Technology for Diverse Requirements

The company claims petrol injection technologies will become the standard in Asia’s motorcycle markets in the near future due to stricter legal standards. The introduction of the BS VI standard from April 2020 in India is especially relevant to this shift, as well as Emissions standard IV in China from July 2018, which is valid for all newly registered motorcycles. The flexible systems are used for engine management and to ensure system efficiency by controlling fuel supply based on manufacturer requirements or national regulations.

Individual components like fuel pumps or injectors are adapted to local emission requirements to ensure effective engine management even with different technologies.

Catalysts: Technology and Low Cell Density for High Efficiency

In the emission clean-up area as well, the focus is on using technology in new and clever ways to generate the best possible efficiency and fulfil diverse market and customer demands. The position of the catalyst, its cell density and the use of structured foils in the metal substrate plays a key role in determining efficiency – including from an economic standpoint. “The closer the catalyst is installed to the engine, the more effective it will be. System costs for exhaust-gas after-treatment are also reduced at the same time” explained Sven Seifert, manager of Catalysts for the 2-Wheelers and Powersports business unit at Continental.

The company states both the emission clean-up and engine management systems use a modular design and fulfil a large number of different technical and legal requirements. The catalysts owe their variability to a ‘fine-tuning of internal values’ reducing thermal mass leads to less back-pressure and better efficiency, and thereby allows designers to minimise volume and weight. Structured foils, lower cell density, and variable designs based on installation position make the catalysts highly complex and diverse components for a wide variety of vehicle types from scooters to light motorcycles.

Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS): Developed for Large Vehicles, Useful in Small Ones

Technology transfer allows smaller, motorised two-wheeled vehicles to benefit from achievements in mobile safety technology in ARAS. The Blind Spot Detection monitors the blind spot, a new feature for the commuter vehicle class. To function reliably in high-density traffic and everyday commuting situations, systems from the passenger car and motorcycle segment were adapted for their specific use in these pragmatic vehicles to offer drivers the best possible support.

Blind Spot Detection: change lanes without worry

Blind Spot Detection uses a backward-facing short-range radar that assesses traffic to the rear and sides and notifies the driver of critical situations when changing lanes. There are a variety of visualisation options that warn drivers of vehicles in their blind spots. For instance, a clearly structured LED interface in the side mirrors provides information to the driver on surrounding traffic using visual signals precisely when he needs it. The system’s high level of sensitivity detects traffic movements in just fractions of a second, adding safety in commuter traffic, which often involves high relative speeds and spontaneous lane changes. “Even the least expensive version of our advanced rider assistance systems completely fulfills these difficult everyday requirements” said, Christian Pfeiffer, ARAS project manager for the area of 2-Wheelers and Powersports at Continental.

Brake Safely: The One-Channel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) MiniMAB

Every meter counts in emergency braking, but the best way to achieve short braking distances is with high brake pressure, which can lock wheels at a certain point. Continetal’s one-channel ABS MiniMAB offers a great amount of additional safety by ensuring the front wheel doesn’t lock up, avoiding a crash. The MiniMAB developed specifically for cost-sensitive markets like Asia with a focus on scooters and motorcycles with moderate engine displacement that only have one hydraulic disk brake on the front wheel. Thanks to its small and lightweight design (285 cm², 420 grams), it is an optimal addition to a variety of vehicle types and requires minimal technical effort, since only one-wheel speed sensor is required. It works with even the smallest engine displacements – a highly beneficial and forward-thinking technology transfer. “ABS systems make driving two-wheeled vehicles much safer, helping to achieve our Vision Zero – the vision of accident-free driving”, said Lothar Kienle, development manager of Motorcycle ABS for the 2-Wheelers and Powersports business unit.