Two-Wheeler as a Future Growth Market - Innovative System and Component Solutions for Electronic Engine Management in Motorcycles

摘要

Motorcycles equipped with internal combustion engines are set to remain an essential element of individual mobility in the future, especially in the emerging markets of Asia and South America. According to internal studies carried out by Bosch, the overall global market for motorcycles will grow to around 100 million vehicles in 2020. Just like the market for passenger cars fitted with internal combustion engines, the future of engine management systems in the motorcycle market rests on factors such as the future development of emissions legislation and customer demand for lower fuel consumption, increased comfort and improved performance. This article provides estimates as to how the motorcycle market will develop. Using the current legal limits and future customer requirements as a basis, the article will examine the scope offered by electronic engine management systems compared to conventional carburetor technology. However, Bosch believes that this scope in the marketplace can only be utilized if an entire cost-effective system for electronic engine management is made available, for which the increased price compared to a conventional carburetor system can be justified. The inherent conflict in objectives between creating a product that meets motorcycle-specific requirements on the one hand and staying within the tight cost constraints on the other is, in part, counteracted through the use of components specifically designed for motorcycle applications. This article also presents innovative system approaches that involve analyzing the functional structure to create modified component sets and generate software control algorithms. Furthermore, electronic engine management systems are capable of providing added-value functionality that Bosch believes will generate further interest in the markets mentioned previously and among future consumer groups. The challenges involved in developing new motorcycle components are discussed, using the injection system and the control unit as examples. A comparison with solutions conceived for passenger car components highlights the hub of innovation centered on cost and function. Putting development activities right in the heart of the market itself - a further success factor that Bosch consistently adopts - supports the innovation process. The article closes with a study of the ability to transfer the approaches to other areas and a brief presentation of the entire Bosch portfolio for the motorcycle market.