8-Speed Automatic Transmission: Hybrid as Standard

Modern PHEVs are preparing the transition to the pure e-mobility age: Even though they still have a combustion engine on board, it is only rarely used. Thanks to a powerful battery, a PHEV has sufficient electric range for a majority of drivers to cover all their daily trips. For the more occasional long trips, on vacation or a weekend excursion, the combustion engine comes into play. With its EVplus concept vehicle, ZF is demonstrating the potential of current PHEVs: The test vehicle featuring suitable software to operate in E-mode as often as possible, has an electric range of 150 kilometers.

Thanks to a modular system, the technology company can offer the 8HP as a mild, full and plug-in hybrid drive with a peak electric performance of 24 to 160 kilowatts. Numerous optimizations show what ZF can achieve by integrating systems: The power electronics are now completely inside the transmission housing – previously, they were located separately in the vehicle and required a corresponding high-voltage wiring. The power electronics are now more compact, with their weight cut in half. The fourth-generation 8HP is also a bit lighter than the third generation. The outer dimensions of the new transmission are just like the predecessor's: ideal for ZF customers who will use the new 8HP in the same model ranges as the third generation. "With every generation of our automatic passenger car transmissions, we made drives more efficient in all aspects – electrically and mechanically. With the 8HP, we further reduced losses with every generation – thereby cutting emissions," says Ebenhoch. The ZF engineers were able to increase efficiency once again.