Next-Generation 800V Electric Drive and Impairment Detection Technology Showcased at CES Magna
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, Magna, a global automotive supplier, introduced its next-generation eDrive solution, a significant leap forward in impaired driving prevention technology.
The eDrive, a supplier industry-first advancement, is designed to enhance road safety by passively detecting an intoxicated driver with a blood alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit of 0.08 percent (0.05 percent in Utah). This technology marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat impaired driving.
Magna's new safety technology is an integration of camera technology for detecting driver distraction, drowsiness, and intoxication, and infrared sensor technology from Senseair. The technology uses cockpit-embedded sensors that measure and quantify alcohol and carbon dioxide levels in a driver's diluted exhalations.
The eDrive's design is lightweight (75 kg) and has a 20% reduction in height compared to Magna's prior generation eDrive. This design improvement allows for improved system integration in the front and rear vehicle space, with the ability to rotate it 90 degrees around the drive axis.
Diba Ilunga, President of Powertrain at Magna, stated that the next generation eDrive showcases unparalleled sustainability in both product design and production methodology. The new solution from Magna focuses on alcohol detection, the most common substance associated with impaired driving crashes. In an effort to reduce its environmental impact, the technology reduces its reliance on aluminum and heavy rare earth materials, resulting in a significant reduction of CO2 emissions during production by approximately 20% compared to previous generation eDrives.
Bill Snider, President of Electronics at Magna, stated that the company is focused on delivering active safety innovations to reduce accidents and fatalities. The eDrive achieves up to 93% efficiency in real-world driving, including WLTC and highway, making it more versatile. The technology determines a driver's "fitness to drive" quickly, reliably, and affordably.
In 2021, drunk driving claimed more than 13,000 lives in the U.S., accounting for about one-third of all traffic-related deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Magna's new safety technology represents a significant step towards addressing this pressing issue and improving road safety for all.
The next generation eDrive can be applied as a primary or complementary secondary drive solution with an optional eDecoupling unit for vehicles in the C, D, and E segments. Magna's new safety technology for impaired driving prevention is set to revolutionize the automotive industry and contribute to a safer, more sustainable future.
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