FORVIA, the world’s seventh-largest supplier of automotive technology, has won three awards at the CLEPA Innovation Awards 2023. CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers.
At the eighth edition of the international competition with a focus on digital and environmentally friendly innovations, three technologies from different FORVIA business areas of CLEPA were awarded.
Automatic diagnostics
HELLA Gutmann Solutions, a subsidiary of the FORVIA Group specializing in sophisticated diagnostic equipment and services, has succeeded in automating one of the most common activities in automotive workshops – fault diagnosis – with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technology. This automation of diagnostics, which is unique in the world, noticeably increases the overall efficiency of vehicle repairs.
The ‘Automatic Diagnostics’ function covers 17 languages and is available at no additional cost to all workshops using an up-to-date diagnostic device from HELLA Gutmann Solutions in 24 countries. As part of the automatic function, the vehicle identification number (VIN) is automatically determined, stored error codes are read out and evaluated in terms of their relevance, actual and target values in the system parameters are compared, and around two billion data records of historically performed diagnostic cases are consulted. This process chain runs automatically in less than five minutes and ends with the limitation of the cause of the fault to a specific component.
NAFILean-R: ore recycled content in sustainable materials
In order to reduce the CO2 footprint of the automotive industry, more sustainable, renewable and bio-based materials must be used.
FORVIA has committed to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions across the entire value chain (Scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2045 and has planned two intermediate steps to achieve this: net-zero emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by 2025 and a 45% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030.
To achieve its net-zero goal, FORVIA has spent the last decade developing a range of biocomposites used in dashboards, centre consoles and door panels. These are known as NAFILean. The material is made of natural fibres such as hemp and polypropylene, has a remarkable organic content of 20% and is 100% recyclable.
This unique material, developed for engineering plastic parts, offers excellent hardness, crash properties and aging resistance. The newest member of the NAFILean family, NAFILean-R, combines 20% natural hemp fibres with a low-CO2 polypropylene matrix that consists of 40% recycled material. The result is a material that not only reduces weight, but also reduces CO2 emissions by up to 87% compared to the industry benchmark.
The NAFILean product family has already been chosen by major car manufacturers such as Renault, Stellantis and Nissan.
XL tank: a pioneering solution for hydrogen-powered CVs
The XL tank can store more than 20 kg of gaseous hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bar and opens up new possibilities for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles including:
– Up to 1000+ km autonomy
– Charge from 0% to 100% range in less than 15 minutes by refueling at an H2 filling station
– The design of the XL tank allows for easy vehicle integration, making it a valuable solution for installation in new chassis or retrofitting existing vehicle fleets to zero emission.
According to FORVIA, a number of customers, including e-Neo, already rely on the XL tank. Product deliveries will begin in 2024.
“These awards reflect FORVIA’s unwavering commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry – whether through pioneering technologies for zero-emission mobility and services, or sustainable materials serving our customers and end users. This recognition reinforces our commitment to safer and more sustainable mobility,” says Christophe Aufrère, Chief Technical Officer at FORVIA.
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