One-third of the energy produced by automotive drivetrains is today lost as heat through the exhaust system. This heat is a valuable resource if it is captured and used in the vehicle.

The Ioniq is Hyundai’s advanced, alternative fuel compact vehicle launched on March 1,2016 while the Ioniq Hybrid variant is the first to come to market. It is equipped with a newly developed 1.6 GDI four-cylinder engine and a 32kW (43.5PS) electric motor powered by an advanced Lithium-Ion polymer battery.

As a world first, Faurecia says it has equipped the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and plug-in Hybrid with its compact Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS), offering up to 3% fuel savings, as measured on U.S. EPA Federal Test Procedure (FTP20).

This energy recovery system is particularly well-adapted for use on hybrid vehicles, whose development is expected to soar over the coming years

How the system works

Exhaust heat is recovered by a gas/fluid heat exchanger integrated in the exhaust line. Up to 3kW of energy is transferred to the engine cooling system and is then used to warm both the engine and the cabin.

This allows the hybrid vehicle to operate more often in electric mode, thus improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. Moreover, the carmaker can downsize or eliminate costly electrical auxiliary cabin heaters. Once the targeted coolant temperature has been reached, an actuated valve enables the system to be by-passed in order to avoid overheating the engine.

EHRS offers upto 7% fuel savings

The Faurecia compact EHRS weighs less than 3 kilograms and

offers best-in-class packaging, allowing installation in a position close to the engine for maximum heat recovery. It is the most competitive solution of its kind on the market and brings a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 7% due to faster engine warmup and increased use of the electric mode.

Additionally, the technology is eligible for CO2 off-cycle credits of 1.5 g/mile in the U.S.A.