Some innovations are ahead of their time, still in their infancy in terms of technology, or not yet ready to be made available to customers. However, taking a more long-term view, it often proves worthwhile sticking with these ideas and investing a lot of time and resources in them.
However, the roots of Bosch expertise in these fields of activity lie far back in the past. They are shaped by milestones that were often too advanced for the times and are only now being manufactured in series production — automated, electrified, and connected. Looking back, electrification is the first of the three development goals that Bosch set its sights on. Bosch began researching electric drive options for cars in spring At that time, electromobility was rare due to the gasoline engine having outpaced the electric motor around due to the greater range and energy density of its affordable fuel.
Bosch was able to draw on its expertise in electric motors and battery development, and on newly-won knowledge from its ventures into the field of microelectronics. Bosch was also carrying out separate research into electrified car drives with braking energy recovery, batteries with greater energy density, and power electronics for controlling electric drives. Government in the mids. The shadow cast by this legislation also reached the core Bosch market in Europe, demanding research into alternatives to the internal-combustion engine.
The test vehicle provided impressive evidence of the potential of electromobility, with driver Georg von Opel claiming several car-based world records. In that same year, tests began on electrically powered buses. Parallel to this, in , Bosch presented a hybrid car based on a Ford Escort with gasoline engine and electric motor. Bosch also carried out a research and development project on electric drives between and without gaining any subsequent contracts.
Electromobility remained in the shadows, a niche technology initially limited to electric vehicles and forklifts on company premises. In addition to potential in the field of electrified drive systems, Bosch also focused on communications technology for cars.
