Delphi helping the aftermarket on Earth Day

Earth Day may only come once a year, but Delphi Corp. reports it is working to help drivers lessen their environmental impact each and every day with a portfolio of energy-efficient, green technologies.

“Delphi continues to develop innovative and environmentally sensitive technologies that can be used in real-world applications,” says Rodney O’Neal, Delphi chief executive officer and president. “Our products help reduce emissions and increase fuel economy without sacrificing the performance or comfort drivers expect.”

Increased Fuel Economy
A vehicle equipped with Delphi's energy-efficient air conditioning technologies alone can save a driver an average of five to15 gallons (19 to 57 liters) of fuel per year in the United States when compared to traditional air conditioning systems. Assuming 10 gallons are saved by every vehicle, it can quickly add up to an annual savings of 2.3 billion gallons worth of gasoline per year in the United States.

Since 1999, Delphi has put more than 10 million Electric Power Steering (EPS) units on the road, saving more than 500 million gallons of fossil fuels. As the steering industry undergoes a significant technological shift driven by regulatory changes to achieve lower CO2 emissions and increased fuel economy, EPS is a cost-effective alternative for automakers to move closer to regulatory targets.

Reducing vehicle weight also helps cut fuel usage. Today's vehicles may contain as much as 100 pounds of wiring. Insulation represents roughly 25 percent of the wiring’s total weight. Delphi Halogen-Free Ultra Thin-Wall insulation measures just 0.2 mm thick, compared to about 0.4 mm for conventional thin-wall cable insulation. That difference—equivalent to about two sheets of paper—accounts for a mass reduction of up to 27 percent and a volume reduction of up to 47 percent in a typical wiring harness. Such an improvement translates to a reduction of roughly five pounds when the entire harness is taken into account. Delphi now produces more than 1.5 billion feet of Halogen-Free Ultra Thin-Wall Cable per year to supply four major automakers.

Using Delphi’s new patented plastic composite technology, even the vehicle audio system weight can be reduced significantly. Delphi’s Ultra Light Radio weighs 1.2 pounds less than a typical car radio, is equally robust and allows vehicle manufactures to maintain the quality and value they require. When a satellite receiver and premium amplifiers are integrated into the radio, up to 10 pounds can be eliminated from a vehicle’s audio system.

Hybrid Technologies
Drivers can help reduce carbon emissions while cashing in on better gas mileage with many of Delphi’s hybrid technologies. Delphi’s Medium Hybrid System, with stop-start capabilities, is a self-contained drive system that can improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent. Turning the internal combustion engine off when the vehicle stops not only saves fuel, but also produces power for the vehicle with regenerative braking without emitting hydrocarbons into the environment.

Hybrid vehicles also have rigorous power requirements. Delphi’s hybrid vehicle electrical/electronic architectures feature components such as wiring harnesses, electrical centers and connection systems that incorporate the shielding, sealing and high-voltage safety interconnects necessary for high-voltage, high-power applications.

As the number of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) on the road increases, technicians will be challenged with diagnosis and repair of the complex technologies used in those vehicles. Delphi’s training program for HEVs was developed to prepare technicians with information they must know before attempting maintenance or diagnostics on HEVs. The program addresses specific safety and service procedures, and defines the tools and equipment needed to perform proper service.

Cleaner Emissions
Delphi is also helping manufacturers achieve significantly lower levels of smog producing emissions compared with vehicles made just a generation ago. In fact, the exhaust from today’s gasoline engines is actually cleaner than the ambient air in some high-smog areas of the world.

Delphi is producing fuel injection systems, fuel handling systems and electronics and software for vehicles and small-engine products that operate on ethanol (E100) and ethanol blend (E85) fuels. Additionally, Delphi’s carbon canisters help limit the release of gasoline vapors by reducing evaporative emissions that occur from fuel storage and delivery. The company’s newest technologies significantly reduce “evap” emissions compared to technologies of the 1990s.

For more information, visit www.delphi.com.