An electrifying combination: hybrid technology from Porsche and Bosch

With the 918 Spyder, the Panamera S E-Hybrid and the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, Porsche was the first car manufacturer in the world to offer three plug-in hybrid models. Among the suppliers Porsche relies on for the innovative drive system is Bosch. The possibilities offered by the combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor were impressively demonstrated by the Porsche hybrid vehicles at the 62nd International Automotive Press Briefing at the Boxberg test track.

The project definition for the 918 Spyder’s development team was to build the super sports car for the next decade with a highly efficient and high performance hybrid drive. The completely new development, which logically started from scratch on a blank piece of paper, allows a new concept without having to make any concessions. The whole car was designed around the hybrid drive. The 918 Spyder thus highlights the potential of hybrid drives, i.e. the simultaneous increase in efficiency and performance, without one coming at the expense of the other. Thanks to the SMG 180/120 electric motor developed by Bosch, the Porsche 918 Spyder has an additional 210 kW (286 hp) of driving power. The electric motor on the front axle of the 918 Spyder delivers a torque of 210 Nm right from the start, while the motor on the rear axle delivers 375 Nm. The result is a total system output of 652 kW (887 hp) with a maximum torque of up to 1,280 Nm, allowing the 918 Spyder to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.6 seconds. The super sports car’s fuel consumption, on the other hand, is an amazing 3.1 litres per 100 km, making it more efficient in the NEDC test than most of today’s small cars.

The driving experience of a sports car combined with the consumption of a small car – the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid and Panamera S E-Hybrid prove that these two are not contradictory to each other. The world’s first plug-in hybrid amongst the premium SUVs with a system output of 306 kW (416 hp) achieves an NEDC fuel consumption of just 3.4 l/100 km. The plug-in hybrid model of the Porsche Gran Turismo, which also has a system output of 306 kW (416 hp) stands out thanks to its weight advantage, rear-wheel drive and low drag, giving it a fuel consumption of just 3.1 l/100.

In the plug-in hybrid models of the Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, Bosch’s IMG-300 electric motor provides additional electrical propulsion. It gives a boost of up to 310 Nm of additional torque and provides 70 kW (95 hp) of additional power. The central interface between the electric motor and the battery is the INVCON 2.3 module made by Bosch. The power electronics are the control centre of the electric powertrain, because the system converts the direct current stored as energy in the battery into three-phase alternating current for the electric motor and vice versa. The traction battery stores the electricity in the powertrain. It is made up of prismatic cells with an energy capacity of 9.4 kilowatt hours in the Panamera S E-Hybrid and 10.8 kilowatt hours in the Cayenne S E-Hybrid that can be fully charged from a normal household power socket in less than four hours. Using a high current power supply, the charging time is almost halved to a good two hours.

Young and upcoming furniture maker infuses fun into living spaces

He’s a regular at flea markets, junk shops and thrift stores. The nature of his craft makes it certain that he would be covered in grime and his own sweat before the day is through — which, no matter how unpleasant it may all sound, are all welcome indications that he is on the verge of resurrecting the dead.

Of course, by resurrecting the dead, we mean goods and materials that have reached their end of life, yet have been saved from the landfill to be repurposed in an unusual or artful manner.

At 24, marketing graduate Paco Pili could have been a young executive at an ad agency or marketing firm. But the lure of creative design made him give up a promising position at a local bank to pursue upcycling. Today, he takes pleasure in turning unwanted items into furniture that bring an element of fun to homes and offices.

Upcycling is the process of converting old or discarded goods into something beautiful, either as an art piece or something with practical use. Upcycling is different from recycling because it seeks to repurpose old items and create something even better than the original; whereas recycling is a process of reusing materials such as plastic, paper, metal or glass to manufacture new consumer products.

While both are great ways to reduce waste, upcycling takes the artistic aesthetic as an imperative.

Paco has been upcycling for the past three years. Beginning as a hobby in his college years, upcycling started off as a means to create unique gifts for a girl he was trying to impress. However, it has since become his full-time job, creating pieces that have been purveyed by a few of Manila’s trendier furniture stores. Today, he creates custom furniture for celebrity clientele.

He has made interesting appliances and furniture that become instant conversation pieces such as couches made from bathtubs, speaker sets from old luggage, and boomboxes from car hoods, among many others. Depending on the complexity of the project, it usually takes him one to two weeks to complete a single piece of furniture, beginning with finding and purchasing the materials, to designing the concept, through to constructing the final output.

The construction of the furniture usually takes up the most time, as he usually does all the work with the help of just one assistant. He was using second-hand power tools but recently acquired brand new power tools from Bosch to try and see if there would be a difference in quality and completion time.

“I used to buy the cheapest tools I could find from auctions and second-hand stores,” said Paco. “At the time of purchase, I felt I saved money on those tools. But they would keep breaking down and I would end up buying the same tools over and over again – so my profits were just wasted on tools that would give out even before I could complete my projects.”

According to Paco, this changed when he started using Bosch Power Tools. He realized that a project that once took him 4-5 days, would now take just 2 days to finish.

“I am now working on a table made out of an old sewing machine. With my Bosch Sander, sanding the sewing machine’s entire wood surface took me just an hour compared to the full day it used to require. For this project, I am using the sewing machine as a base and I bought a long panel of hardwood for the tabletop. Cutting the hardwood with the Bosch circular saw and Bosch planer was easy and safe, giving me a smooth finish without having to break a sweat.”
Using the Bosch cordless drill also allowed him to use less manual force to easily drive pegs into the hardwood tabletop that will be attached to the sewing machine base. Because it was battery powered, the Bosch cordless drill gave him the flexibility to work without the restriction of cables and reach angles that were previously impossible with his old tools.

“The Bosch Impact Drill made a significant improvement on the quality and precision of my work,” Paco added. “I recently just completed a lamp made out of galvanized iron pipes. Precision is more critical in this project to minimize instances of shorting and grounding, and the Bosch Impact Drill helped me to accurately create the cavities needed for the wiring. Despite the thickness and rigidity of the metal, I was able to complete drilling in a few hours and with less physical pressure compared to the full day it usually took.”

But perhaps the best part of using Bosch tools is that Paco no longer has to worry about leaving a project unfinished or experience delays in completion due to power tool failure.

“Apart from the safety and precision of using the Bosch power tools, I am more assured of the longevity of the tools and I know my Bosch tools guarantee the best performance every time,” Paco stated. “The support service is very reliable, so in the event of a problem, I know that help is only just a phone call away.”

By using Bosch tools, Paco can now create more furniture pieces and earn more from precision and superior-quality work. He is currently working on a few more bathtub couches and tables made from old luggage, but more importantly, he can now explore new innovative designs for future projects. His projects exude 60’s hip with a modern vibe, putting a quirky twist and artistic form to practical function.

Young and upcoming furniture maker infuses fun into living spaces

He’s a regular at flea markets, junk shops and thrift stores. The nature of his craft makes it certain that he would be covered in grime and his own sweat before the day is through — which, no matter how unpleasant it may all sound, are all welcome indications that he is on the verge of resurrecting the dead.

Of course, by resurrecting the dead, we mean goods and materials that have reached their end of life, yet have been saved from the landfill to be repurposed in an unusual or artful manner.

At 24, marketing graduate Paco Pili could have been a young executive at an ad agency or marketing firm. But the lure of creative design made him give up a promising position at a local bank to pursue upcycling. Today, he takes pleasure in turning unwanted items into furniture that bring an element of fun to homes and offices.

Upcycling is the process of converting old or discarded goods into something beautiful, either as an art piece or something with practical use. Upcycling is different from recycling because it seeks to repurpose old items and create something even better than the original; whereas recycling is a process of reusing materials such as plastic, paper, metal or glass to manufacture new consumer products.

While both are great ways to reduce waste, upcycling takes the artistic aesthetic as an imperative.

Paco has been upcycling for the past three years. Beginning as a hobby in his college years, upcycling started off as a means to create unique gifts for a girl he was trying to impress. However, it has since become his full-time job, creating pieces that have been purveyed by a few of Manila’s trendier furniture stores. Today, he creates custom furniture for celebrity clientele.

He has made interesting appliances and furniture that become instant conversation pieces such as couches made from bathtubs, speaker sets from old luggage, and boomboxes from car hoods, among many others. Depending on the complexity of the project, it usually takes him one to two weeks to complete a single piece of furniture, beginning with finding and purchasing the materials, to designing the concept, through to constructing the final output.

The construction of the furniture usually takes up the most time, as he usually does all the work with the help of just one assistant. He was using second-hand power tools but recently acquired brand new power tools from Bosch to try and see if there would be a difference in quality and completion time.

“I used to buy the cheapest tools I could find from auctions and second-hand stores,” said Paco. “At the time of purchase, I felt I saved money on those tools. But they would keep breaking down and I would end up buying the same tools over and over again – so my profits were just wasted on tools that would give out even before I could complete my projects.”

According to Paco, this changed when he started using Bosch Power Tools. He realized that a project that once took him 4-5 days, would now take just 2 days to finish.

“I am now working on a table made out of an old sewing machine. With my Bosch Sander, sanding the sewing machine’s entire wood surface took me just an hour compared to the full day it used to require. For this project, I am using the sewing machine as a base and I bought a long panel of hardwood for the tabletop. Cutting the hardwood with the Bosch circular saw and Bosch planer was easy and safe, giving me a smooth finish without having to break a sweat.”
Using the Bosch cordless drill also allowed him to use less manual force to easily drive pegs into the hardwood tabletop that will be attached to the sewing machine base. Because it was battery powered, the Bosch cordless drill gave him the flexibility to work without the restriction of cables and reach angles that were previously impossible with his old tools.

“The Bosch Impact Drill made a significant improvement on the quality and precision of my work,” Paco added. “I recently just completed a lamp made out of galvanized iron pipes. Precision is more critical in this project to minimize instances of shorting and grounding, and the Bosch Impact Drill helped me to accurately create the cavities needed for the wiring. Despite the thickness and rigidity of the metal, I was able to complete drilling in a few hours and with less physical pressure compared to the full day it usually took.”

But perhaps the best part of using Bosch tools is that Paco no longer has to worry about leaving a project unfinished or experience delays in completion due to power tool failure.

“Apart from the safety and precision of using the Bosch power tools, I am more assured of the longevity of the tools and I know my Bosch tools guarantee the best performance every time,” Paco stated. “The support service is very reliable, so in the event of a problem, I know that help is only just a phone call away.”

By using Bosch tools, Paco can now create more furniture pieces and earn more from precision and superior-quality work. He is currently working on a few more bathtub couches and tables made from old luggage, but more importantly, he can now explore new innovative designs for future projects. His projects exude 60’s hip with a modern vibe, putting a quirky twist and artistic form to practical function.

Bosch appoints Andrew Powell as managing director for the Philippines

Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, today announced that it has appointed Andrew Powell to head Bosch in the Philippines as the company’s new managing director based in Manila.

British-born Powell sees immense potential for Bosch’s continued business expansion in the Philippines, particularly in maintaining its market leadership position in the company’s automotive and power tools businesses.

Powell elaborated, “The Philippines continues to be fueled by an upbeat economic climate. The construction industry, for example, is earmarked to contribute almost 50 per cent to the country’s growth in 2014, as the government moves to roll out new infrastructure and address housing shortage. Bosch, with its strong presence in the power tools industry in the Philippines, is poised to support that growth.”

He added, “Bosch will also continue to play a meaningful role in local community development efforts, such as supporting the re-building of the areas hardest-hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Our partnerships with NGOs have allowed us to put our power tools to good use in the rehabilitation of community centers and other similar facilities.”

In addition, Powell sees the automotive industry in the Philippines riding high, buoyed by an emerging middle class. “With new international players entering the rapidly-expanding automotive market in the Philippines, Bosch, as a leading global automotive technology supplier, is ever-ready to play a key role in contributing to a thriving automotive sector in the country.”

Bosch in the Philippines
In 2012, Bosch achieved a strong growth of 30 percent in sales and grew its workforce by close to 40 percent to about 200 associates in the Philippines. The company also extended its footprint in the country with the establishment of regional business hubs in Cebu and Davao.

Powell assumes leadership for Bosch in the Philippines from Joseph Hong, who was the company’s managing director since January 2010. Hong is currently the managing director of Bosch in Thailand as of 1 September 2013.

About Andrew Powell
Andrew Powell started his career with Bosch in Great Britain as an Area Sales Executive in January 1983. Following a year of training in Karlsruhe, Germany, he was appointed to several sales and service management positions.

In 2001, he served as general manager of Global After-sales Service for the Automotive Aftermarket division in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 2007, he became the director of Original Equipment Service Sales for Bosch in Great Britain.

Powell studied Mechanical Engineering at Bradford Technical College in the United Kingdom.

Bosch appoints Andrew Powell as managing director for the Philippines

Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, today announced that it has appointed Andrew Powell to head Bosch in the Philippines as the company’s new managing director based in Manila.

British-born Powell sees immense potential for Bosch’s continued business expansion in the Philippines, particularly in maintaining its market leadership position in the company’s automotive and power tools businesses.

Powell elaborated, “The Philippines continues to be fueled by an upbeat economic climate. The construction industry, for example, is earmarked to contribute almost 50 per cent to the country’s growth in 2014, as the government moves to roll out new infrastructure and address housing shortage. Bosch, with its strong presence in the power tools industry in the Philippines, is poised to support that growth.”

He added, “Bosch will also continue to play a meaningful role in local community development efforts, such as supporting the re-building of the areas hardest-hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Our partnerships with NGOs have allowed us to put our power tools to good use in the rehabilitation of community centers and other similar facilities.”

In addition, Powell sees the automotive industry in the Philippines riding high, buoyed by an emerging middle class. “With new international players entering the rapidly-expanding automotive market in the Philippines, Bosch, as a leading global automotive technology supplier, is ever-ready to play a key role in contributing to a thriving automotive sector in the country.”

Bosch in the Philippines
In 2012, Bosch achieved a strong growth of 30 percent in sales and grew its workforce by close to 40 percent to about 200 associates in the Philippines. The company also extended its footprint in the country with the establishment of regional business hubs in Cebu and Davao.

Powell assumes leadership for Bosch in the Philippines from Joseph Hong, who was the company’s managing director since January 2010. Hong is currently the managing director of Bosch in Thailand as of 1 September 2013.

About Andrew Powell
Andrew Powell started his career with Bosch in Great Britain as an Area Sales Executive in January 1983. Following a year of training in Karlsruhe, Germany, he was appointed to several sales and service management positions.

In 2001, he served as general manager of Global After-sales Service for the Automotive Aftermarket division in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 2007, he became the director of Original Equipment Service Sales for Bosch in Great Britain.

Powell studied Mechanical Engineering at Bradford Technical College in the United Kingdom.