CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part four

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, as member of the Executive committee, he gives his vision of this international event.

"CESA is a true forum. In France, we are not very familiar with open discussions on technology. There is a tradition of secret. There is a dialogue between PSA, Renault and Valeo, but it was not the case with our colleagues from other OEMS.
This event is the opportunity to discuss with top experts the latest trends and main challenges. We can have direct conversations on hot topics.
From my point of view, CESA should be the mirror of what we are doing in France with VeDeCom institute in Paris area. This facility is dedicated to research on carbon free vehicles of the future, connectivity, automated driving and new mobility services".

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part three

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he talks about next generation powertrains.

"The evolution of powertrains is very similar to the evolution of species on Earth. OEMS have to adapt themselves to a new landscape, due to regulations for CO2 and pollution. Thanks to new technologies, in the field of combustion or admission, the average consumption will be reduced by 10 to 15 per cent in 2020. That's very important in only ten years.
Of course, electrification is the main topic today. Up to 8 billion dollars have been invested in battery technologies in the whole world. There is now a very large offer, from Stop & Start to range extender, including battery electric vehicles and plug in hybrids. I think that all these solutions will compete for the next decade. After 2020, the market will then choose the best options.
We already have electric vehicles and we have identified synergy effects in that field in our alliance with General Motors.
At PSA, we have decided to focus on diesel hybrid. This technology has been deployed on several vehicles and have been well welcomed by our customers. It is still a premium feature, but we are working to make it more affordable.
Our company has been also the first to promote Stop & Start system. We think it can be improved, in conjunction with a 48 volt architecture. It would be possible then to offer new functions, such as  active coasting and boost effet, with a 15 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions. The european approach for hybrids is more cost effective".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will be discussing CESA event.

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part two

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he talks about automated driving.

"In a few months, our Peugeot 208 will be offering automated park assist. This feature is not that new on the market place. Many other OEMS have implemented that technology that lets the car park by itself, calculating if there is room enough and turning automatically the steering wheel. But, it will be the fist time ever that this equipement will be available on a mass production vehicle.
With EuroNCAP decision, to promote AEB (Automated Emergency Braking systems), the OEMS will integrate more and more sensors to enhance safety. Thanks to cost reduction, radars, cameras or lidar will spread on model series between 2015 and 2020. The technology already enables the car to evaluate the driver concentration with accurate sensors and algorithms.
We are also working on comfort features. A function such as traffic jam assist should give peace of mind to the driver. In slow traffic, he would then have time to make something else and let the car manage the accelerator and the brake, thanks to ACC.
In France, we have a common position with Renault. We would like to avoid expensive technologies and to give the benefit of accident free technologies for a majority of drivers, and not only for high end models. Our vision is to develop car to car communication and to promote a dialogue between the vehicle and the infrastructure. That's why we have created VeDeCom institute in Paris area. Public authorities, pedestrians and drivers should be able to interact for a better mobility".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will be discussing next gen powertrains.

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part one

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he explains how is organised R&D for the french OEM.

"When I arrived at the head of our R&D division (called DRIA*) three years ago, I decided to shift from engineering to innovation.
Our aim is to open ourselves to new partners, such as Open Labs and other industrial companies outside the automotive industry. For instance, we have common works with EADS. It helps in order to better integrate composite materials and to save weight.
We also want to integrate our customers in the loop. Usually, technology is pushed by R&D and comes then to market. What we try to do is to take in account the customers expectations, as expressed in our marketing surveys, and to evaluate which innovations in our portfolio should answer to their needs. That's why we created a small dedicated team, called UXIN (User Experience INnovation). We appointed a designer that thinks outside of the box, focused on user experience. This person helps to design services and interfaces, so that people forget the technology behind. We already have some new concepts, especially in the promising field of connectivity and smartphone integration".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will discuss automated driving.

*Direction of Research and Automotive Innovation

BMW et PSA launch BPCE in Paris

This evening, in Paris, BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën have made an official presentation of BPCE. This joint venture stands for BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification.
The development and production spectrum of this new company comprises all relevant components for electric powertrains, such as high-voltage batteries, electric motors, generators, power electronics, loading units and energy management software.
This joint venture will enable both partners to create an open platform on these technologies and support the European industry to structure itself in the field of hybridization. To that end, the joint venture will be a full-fledged company and will both integrate suppliers by outsourcing development work as well as sell hybrid components to third parties.
The new company will be operating out of two locations - the greater Munich area, Germany and Mulhouse, France. 400 employees are already working at BPCE, including 50 french people. The new hybrid components will equip both partners' vehicles from 2015 onwards. The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have invested more than 100 million EUR in their joint venture on hybrid technology.