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FEV, Inc. 7H-AMT Transmission Packs 7 Speeds into Small Package

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- FEV, Inc., (FEV) a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, announced today that it will show its internally developed 7-speed hybrid automated manual transmission (7H-AMT) at the upcoming 2010 SAE World Congress, April 13 - 15, 2010 at Cobo Center in Detroit. The 7H-AMT will be displayed in FEV's booth, #430.

FEV's innovative 7H-AMT is designed specifically for transverse installation, paving the way for wider use of extremely fuel efficient transmissions in smaller vehicles. The transmission also presents new comfort attributes formerly reserved for larger vehicles. The 7-speed hybrid transmission is equipped with an electric motor designed to eliminate torque interruption, a major disadvantage of automated manual transmissions (AMT) usually found in smaller vehicles where shift comfort does not play a key role. Torque interruption can be eliminated due to the transmission's configuration which provides two independent torque paths, one for the combustion engine (CE) and one for the electric motor (EM). During CE gear shifts, the EM fills the torque gap that would usually occur in a conventional AMT.

The 7-speed transmission provides 7 +R gear ratios for the EM without increasing the complexity and part count of a comparable conventional AMT. Due to the ultra compact design, the transmission can be installed transversely and offers the same torque range of a 6-speed transmission, and features all standard operating modes of a full hybrid transmission, including start/stop and boosting/regeneration in all gears.

The 7H-AMT provides functionality for electric hybrid or all electric driving including start/stop and boosting/regeneration. All electric driving is possible when using the first EM gear, and is sufficient for most urban driving situations. When more torque is needed, the CE is started by controlled slip of the clutch and precise modulation of EM torque.

The 7H-Amt was developed by a global team utilizing the company's vast hybrid experience, including FEV's Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Development Center in Auburn Hills.

About FEV

The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. The FEV Group employs a staff of over 1,800 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents. FEV, Inc. employs approximately 300 personnel at FEV's North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.

SOURCE FEV, Inc.