TRW launches third-gen column drive electrically powered steering in Europe and China

TRW Automotive has announced that its third-generation electrically powered steering column drive (EPS CD) technology has recently been launched on two major vehicle platforms which include – for Europe – the Volkswagen Polo, Up and e-Up, Audi S1, Skoda Rapide, Space Back, Fabia and Citigo as well as the Fiat 500L – and for China – the GAC Fiat Viaggio. Annual volumes will be over one million for these platforms.

TRW's EPS CD Gen 3 is based on a modular and scalable architecture which allows for greater freedom of packaging and design for a broad range of applications and helps to lower life cycle costs.

Dirk Kesselgruber, vice-president, Steering Engineering at TRW, commented: "Our Gen 3 EPS is tailored to our customers' strategies to increasingly apply modular technology across global platforms. The beauty of these products is the building block nature of substituting motors, ECUs and other major items to fit the application without having to do a massive design tear up.  The value to our customers comes in the form of shorter times to market, and greater component reuse.  The modular approach also helps us to tailor our offering for multiple regional requirements and meet the needs of different customers around the world."

TRW offers two electrically powered steering (EPS) solutions to cover the full vehicle platform range, which consume power to any significant degree only when steering assist is needed.  The first is the column drive unit which is mounted on the steering column inside the passenger compartment and the second is the belt drive where the assist is applied to the rack through a belt and ball nut mechanism.

"With the launch of our latest column drive EPS, TRW is bringing clear cost and environmental benefits to automakers," said Kesselgruber.  "The technology can deliver a fuel savings of 0.3 to 0.4 L/100km, with a corresponding reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 7-8g/km compared to conventional hydraulic systems."

TRW first started production of its EPS technology in 2001 and has since produced more than 26 million units for customers worldwide.