The development of a new generation of every car is a long way off. In addition, it is more challenging today than ever before. Carmakers must meet increasingly stringent fleet CO 2 emissions2 and other gases, but reducing them is really difficult from today’s point of view. Reduction, even by a single gram, equals the use of many new technologies, such as active aerodynamics, reducing friction in the engine, but also in transmissions, but also such details as the aerodynamic shape of the wheels on the car.
During Tuesday’s workshop at the Škoda car plant, we learned about this news from the most professional. And in the following lines, as well as in the attached video, we will be happy to share it with you.
Electric motor here, electric motor there
Electrification is the most important thing in reducing emissions today. Automakers offer mild hybrids, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, as well as pure electric cars. And the Škoda has everything on offer, except for the hybrid. The fourth generation of the Škoda Octavia will be offered with conventional internal combustion engines (petrol, diesel and CNG), as a petrol mild hybrid, but also as a plug-in hybrid (plus two versions).
Škoda significantly marks its significantly electrified models (plug-in hybrids and electric cars) as iV. It already has several on offer. She first came with an electric car Škoda Citigoe iV a plug-in hybrid Superb iV, you will soon add the Octavia iV. It will also combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor with the possibility of external charging.
There will be two plug-in hybrid Octavias on offer: common iV, but also RS iV. Although the two cars differ in technical terms, they use the same technique for their hair. The basis is a petrol four-cylinder 1.4 TSI with 110 kW and 250 Nm, which complements the electric motor with 85 kW and 330 Nm. However, if you look at the total system power of both cars, you will find that while the Octavia iV is 150 kW and 350 Nm, the Octavia RS iV is 180 kW and 400 Nm.
Ing. Martin Hrdlička, head of chassis development, revealed that although it is the same hardware, both cars differ in software. In the Octavia RS, the electric motor is overloaded for a short time to give the required final values. The biggest advantage of both iV models, however, is the fact that the engine feeds newton meters almost immediately after depressing the accelerator pedal and covers the moments before the internal combustion engine starts.
And it is the internal combustion engine that is a special design, which is why the “old” 1.4 TSI is still used. It is a version without deactivating two cylinders. The unit is significantly modified, it should easily withstand frequent cold starts, but also other operation, with which the engine is practically impossible to meet. It was also necessary to think about when the driver will drive for weeks or months only on electricity and will not use a gasoline engine. It will degrade fuel, but also hoses and fuel lines and the like.
In plug-in hybrid Škoda cars, energy is stored in a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which is hidden under the rear seats. It has a capacity of 37 Ah and 13 kWh, respectively, and according to the carmaker, it allows up to 60 km of travel in pure electric mode (WLTP). The fuel tank shifted and had to be reduced to 40 liters due to EU legislation. If the tank were larger, emissions could no longer be calculated for the plug-in hybrid.
Active aerodynamics
During the workshop, however, there were also things that can reduce emissions that we can’t even think of at first glance. For example, aerodynamics. For example, it is really excellent with the RS liftback, because the coefficient cx is only 0.24. This is due to the shape of the body, but also the strict regulation of the air while driving – both passive and active.
And active aerodynamics is an element that the fourth-generation Octavia relies heavily on. In the lower part of the front bumper it has a so-called blind or roller shutter. This is a system of rotary dampers that can let air into the engine compartment or close it and let it flow out. The blind can handle an infinite number of positions, from fully open to fully closed, and its opening / closing depends on the motor temperature, the environment, the load and many other factors that the control unit works with.
By the way, all Octavia models have a roller shutter, with the exception of the RS, because the RS could have a problem with cooling the units in some tropical countries, where these models are also exported. On the other hand, winter is said to be that the blind is only in the lower part of the bumper and not in the radiator grille, because in cold countries, on the other hand, the “closed mask” could freeze and not enough air should enter the engine compartment. And according to Hrdlička, he is “An extremely expensive and rare commodity”.
In a recent interview for skoda-kariera.cz, Martin Hrdlička also said: “Engines must be prepared for different emission standards, dramatically different temperatures, high altitudes, different fuel quality or the use of components from several different suppliers.”
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Smooth and frictionless
There are additional holes on the sides of the front bumper. However, they do not serve, as it might seem, to cool the brakes, but to prevent air turbulence at the front wheels, which would spoil the aerodynamics. The brakes are cooled through the engine compartment (thanks to the blinds) or by a fan, when stopped – air passes through openings in the underbody.
Manual transmissions have also been redesigned. Skoda has developed a new manual case MQ 281, which will to some extent replace the MQ 250 and MQ 350. It is not so robust, it is only a two-shaft, but it also received new bearings or a smaller oil filling. All this is reflected in smaller friction losses, but also in weight. And these are again valuable tens of grams of emissions.
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<p>Also, most bikes on offer for the Octavia have a special aerodynamic design, where their surface is completely smooth, without protrusions. This is precisely so that the air around them does not swirl. The use of wheel size and width is also important to save fuel consumption (ie also emissions). Large diameter wheels are most effective because they have low rolling resistance, fitted in narrow tires, because they have a small area in terms of air resistance, but also less rolling resistance. Related to the wheels is the fact that the technical certificate will no longer offer as many as before. The offer will be smaller. Reason? The variants must correspond to the homologated CO value<sub>2</sub> for each specific car.</p>
<p>We talked to Ing. About further details – for example about the new mild-hybrid <a data-ail=)
technology, which Škoda will also offer for the first time. Ondřej Dostál, head of the technical center of aggregates at Škoda Auto.
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