Mobility is not only a basic human need, it also has a strong correlation with economic growth. This applies not only for passenger traffic but also for freight transport, particularly on roads. Experts assume that there will be a self-reinforcing effect between the volume of transport and economic performance.
The megatrends globalization, urbanization, digitalization, scarcity of resources, renewable energies and the growing requirements for affordable mobility are leading to changed, much more dynamic market requirements and business models. Schaeffler has developed its growth strategy to fulfill these changed market and customer requirements and utilize the enormous growth potential. Environmentally-friendly drives, urban and interurban mobility as well as the energy chain are the areas of focus, which Schaeffler is actively shaping by carrying out its own research and development in cooperation with its customers and business partners. As a global automobile and industrial supplier, Schaeffler offers relevant solutions for the “mobility for tomorrow”.
Schaeffler is a development partner with a comprehensive understanding of drive train systems both for vehicles with internal combustion engines and for hybrid and electric mobility solutions. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, CTO of Schaeffler AG, emphasizes: “Our strength lies in our broad wealth of expertise, which ranges from the automotive sector and different forms of urban and interurban mobility such as two-wheel vehicles, railways and aviation, to forms of energy generation such as wind, solar and water power.”
Environmentally-friendly drives – The transformation has already begun
The conventional internal combustion engine will increasingly lose its significance by 2030 and be replaced by hybrid and electric drives. Schaeffler offers solutions for all future mobility concepts and is relying on a diversification strategy. Schaeffler covers the entire spectrum, from the optimization of conventional internal combustion engines and hybrid solutions through to products for all-electric mobility, under the title Efficient Future Mobility.
As a leading global high-tech company, Schaeffler also develops market-specific concepts for fulfilling regional environmental standards and enables its customers in all regions to comply with future emission standards. For this purpose, demonstrator vehicles suited to the market were developed for each region, for example, the concept vehicle Efficient Future Mobility India with electronic clutch management or Efficient Future Mobility North America, which demonstrate how a further fuel consumption reduction of up to 15 percent can be achieved using Schaeffler innovations for the drive train.
Urban mobility – Growing urbanization requires a different approach
Whether Moscow, Tokio or Shanghai, megacities worldwide are bursting at the seams and are hit by gridlock every day. What can be done? The trend is clearly towards micromobility and offers significant opportunities for small vehicles.
Schaeffler is actively shaping this trend: The electric wheel hub drive eWheelDrive from Schaeffler provides dynamic propulsion with its 40 kilowatt power output. The compact packaging of the drive modules in the wheel rim creates more space in the interior of the vehicle and increases the vehicle’s maneuverability. Highly-integrated wheel hub drives are a key to the new vehicle concepts, which are needed in megacities.
Modern e-bikes already offer the perfect solution for quickly getting from A to B in megacities. With its innovative sensor bottom bracket technology and automatic gearshift system FAG-VELOMATIC, Schaeffler is making its contribution to establishing e-bikes as the means of transport of the future.
Interurban mobility – Advanced solutions ensure the mobility of tomorrow
The requirements in the long-distance rail travel and logistics sectors are high. There is a need for fast means of transport, which enable a range of flexible applications and at the same time do not cause unnecessary pollution to the environment. Schaeffler plays a pioneer role in interurban mobility, for example, by developing rolling bearing solutions for the railway sector. With the FAG wheelset generator, for example, Schaeffler is capable of providing an energy supply for freight wagons, which will enable the monitoring of wagons and freight traffic in the future.
As the connection point between the wheelset and the bogie frame, axlebox bearings are subjected to extreme loads. In order to increase safety during day-to-day operation and to minimize wear and maintenance outlay, Schaeffler also has its own accredited test laboratories in Germany and China, in which wheel bearings can also be subjected to extreme conditions. This enables tests with speeds up to 600 km/h. Axlebox bearings that are operated under high axial loads, i.e. that support freight volumes up to 40 tons per axle in freight transportation, can also be tested.
The Schaeffler Aerospace business unit has developed into the world’s leading manufacturer and development partner for special rolling bearings in the aviation industry. The bearings as well as further precision components for the engines of the Airbus A380 are supplied by the Schaeffler product brand FAG.
Another important factor is the transportation of goods by ship. In the current ocean fleet, approximately 30 percent of the ships in use are more than 25 years old. There is therefore an urgent requirement for modernization. Especially in the drive train, Schaeffler offers optimum customer solutions with its many years of experience and premium products. Operating costs can be significantly reduced with products in X-life quality, which have a long operating life.
Costs can also be reduced and availability increased by using condition monitoring systems. Schaeffler’s product range includes different products and services for this purpose, such as remote monitoring by vibration measurement, which are particularly suitable for units in the marine sector that are critical in the event of failure or difficult to access.
Energy chain – power supplies of tomorrow
Dwindling resources and the major challenges of climate change mean that the global requirement for clean energy is on the increase. As such, a global rethink and the optimization of all links in the energy chain – from the generation and transport through to the conversion and utilization of energy – is essential. In this context, renewable energy sources begin to play a central role. Water, wind, and solar power also constitute future-oriented growth fields for Schaeffler.
Water power is the most important of all renewable energy sources. In addition to conventional water power, energy can also be generated from ocean waves. This has been demonstrated by the Pelamis wave energy converter, which is equipped with innovative bearing solutions from Schaeffler.
Power generation applications can also run smoothly under water. Underwater turbines are implemented to utilize the ocean currents. They are located meters below the water’s surface, and thanks to their media lubricated rolling bearings from the Industrial division of the Schaeffler Group, they are robust, corrosion-resistant, and practically maintenance-free. As a result, the use of oil and grease is completely eliminated as the water lubricates the bearing. This constitutes a major ecological advantage for under water applications!
Wind power is the second most important source of renewable energy with high growth rates. This is why Schaeffler has been developing and producing bearing supports for onshore and offshore wind turbines for over 30 years. Before the bearing supports are used, they are subject to intensive testing by Schaeffler – namely on Astraios, the world’s second largest large-size bearing test rig, which can test bearings weighing up to 15 tons and with outside diameters of up to 3.5 meters.
Schaeffler is also an important development partner in the field of solar energy. Power plants based on concentrated photovoltaics and solar power operate particularly efficiently if the collectors permanently track the course of the sun. This is where Schaeffler’s rolling and plain bearings come in, with their high load carrying capacity, long operating life, and low maintenance requirements.
