After Volkswagen exhaust cheats, new, stricter testing methods to demonstrate their actual consumption. Emissions must also be measured in the cold, which is not the case today.
– It is good for the world and good for us, we have the solution, says Daniel Hagström, and lift up the latest product from a table in the entrance to reform Tech’s office in Kista.
The Grey jar is a heater for a passenger car. Both in efficiency and emissions beats the competition by a long way, affirms Daniel Hagström.
The secret lies both in the combustion chamber and the software that controls process.
– It has taken five years to develop, says technical manager Bård Lindström as both a PhD in catalysis at KTH and worked several years at AB Volvo.
the heater is already used in several test cars of some of the major automotive manufacturers in the world. One of them is Volvo Cars, who participated in the development, as well as Scania and Volvo Buses and Volvo Trucks.
The interest of car companies were large even before the issuance scandal in the EU and the USA became known. There are several reasons.
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Daniel Hagström shows detailed tables packed with figures on how emission standards gradually tightened, and explains how ReformTech going into it.
When the engines are efficient, they emit less heat is no longer sufficient to heat the passenger compartment. This increases the need for a separate heater.
Today not measured emissions from the heater as it is turned off during the exhaust tests effected at room temperature. But according to the new rules that are going on both in the US and in Europe, the tests must be done even in freezing temperatures. Then the emissions from the heater also be included.
The cars’ catalytic converters also need extra heat to work efficiently.
While electric cars need an efficient car heater for not warming to pull down the range. In an electric car also feel the battery is best to warm up before driving away on a chilly day.
On the loading dock outside Reform Tech’s premises accounts several heaters on the roller carriages and blowing hot air.
– Now in the fall when it starts to get cold, we roll out the lab, says Daniel Hagström.
The fuel is pumped through hoses. It goes well with any vehicle whatsoever, including gas, he explains.
Like a fine mist sprayed it into the combustion chamber. So, the trick itself. Before the fuel lights on put it in the spin of a swirl of air and vaporized. Daniel Hagström compares with a jet engine.
The combustion takes place at high temperature and is controlled by a software. The result is extremely low emissions of soot particles and nitrogen oxides – NO x .
Residual carbon monoxide can be taken care of of a catalyst.
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In one of the roller carriages hums a black box. It is the first product launched recently, a heater without a catalyst intended for boats, campers and for retrofitting.
The first orders have started to drip out, says Daniel Hagström. The price is about 10 000 for a heater of 2 kW. The production takes place in China through a joint venture with a Chinese company will also produce heaters for passenger cars in China.
ReformTech also has manufacturing in Europe through cooperation with the German company Hörmann. Which holds a production line being built up, and the plan is to begin production of heaters for automobile industry in large volumes during next autumn. Towards the end of next year will also be the first cars with interior heaters from ReformTech board.
Daniel Hagström is optimistic and says ReformTech can be the next big Swedish subcontractor to the automotive industry – “a new Haldex or Autoliv”. Among the investors is also Autoliv’s former CEO Lars Westerberg.
Competition comes mainly from the new electric heater. But Daniel Hagström is not particularly worried.
– They require the engine to generate electricity and do not reach our energy efficiency at 80 percent.
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