Valeo has purchased the Variable Torque Enhancement System (VTES) business of British automotive technology development company, Controlled Power Technologies (CPT).
The component producer said the move made it the first automotive supplier to offer customers a range of electric superchargers. Unlike exhaust-driven turbochargers, electric superchargers are driven by an electric motor.
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The technology, which leverages a switched reluctance motor with very low inertia, responds much faster than a conventional turbocharger. Highly efficient at low engine revolutions, electric superchargers make it possible to reduce engine size – an important factor in reducing fuel consumption.
When coupled with a Valeo energy recovery system, electric superchargers can be used to create a cost-competitive hybrid solution that can deliver fuel savings of up to 20% in the standard European driving cycle.
“We are very pleased that CPT’s VTES business is joining Valeo,” said Valeo CEO Jacques Aschenbroich. “This vibrant, innovative company, backed by an impressive bench of talent, has demonstrated its ability to develop highly effective solutions for reducing CO2 emissions. With this acquisition, Valeo confirms its unique position in CO2 -reducing technologies, in line with the Group’s strategy.”
VTES will be integrated into Valeo’s Powertrain Systems Business Group with immediate effect.
Valeo has an R&D budget of more than EUR600m (US$803m). The Group has filed more than 600 patents this year, making it the fourth-ranked filer in France.
“CPT has worked with Valeo over a three-year period to define electric supercharging system requirements,” said CPT CEO Nick Pascoe.
“Our automotive customers wanted clarity about future plans for the VTES product and a sale to Valeo was the best solution to enable our VTES technology to reach its full potential. It also validates our approach to technology development, which we apply to all our products”.
