Automotive Engineering International 2010 tech awards

The editor's of Automotive Engineering International preview the most innovative supplier technologies to be displayed April 13th through 15th in Detroit at the SAE 2010 World Congress. This year's exhibit has a renewed focus on innovation, with fewer companies showing more significant solutions to industry challenges. Check out our full coverage of the event online at sae.org/mags/aei/saewc.

At the 2010 SAE World Congress, BorgWarner will display its 31-03 eGearDrive electric-drive transmission, the next-generation of technology developed for the emerging, higher-volume, lower-cost vehicle-electrification market. The first application will be in the all-electric CODA Automotive sedan scheduled for introduction in California in 2010, followed by the just announced application in the 2011 electric Ford Transit Connect commercial van.

The first variant of eGearDrive, the 31-01, was launched into limited production on the all-electric Tesla Roadster in 2008. In the CODA application, the new 31-03 single-speed transmission is paired with a UQM Technologies' PowerPhase electric propulsion system. Power for that application will come from CODA's transportation-battery joint venture with Lishen Power Battery, China's main state-owned battery manufacturer.