First Sensor Supplies Tank Pressure Sensors for Plug-In Hybrids to Asian Tier-1 Automotive Supplier
- To be installed in the vehicles produced by a German automobile group
- Application of new tank pressure measurement technology
First Sensor AG, a developer and manufacturer of standard products and customer-specific sensor solutions on the growth market of sensor technology, is moving forward with the introduction of innovative pressure applications in order to implement green mobility. The specialist in sensor technology has been awarded a contract to supply tank pressure sensors by an Asian Tier-1 automobile supplier for emission control systems. The sensors are installed in plug-in hybrids of a German automobile group, where they detect possible leaks. The agreement with sales worth millions runs until 2025. Volume production for the new key customer will start in December 2019.
For the combined pressure and temperature measurement in modern fuel systems, First Sensor uses innovative sensors that unite both measurements in the sensor independently of one another. The special focus here is on separating the temperature measurement in the tank from the outside temperature and on high-precision pressure measurement. One of the main ways in which these differ from engine management PT sensors (intake system) already on the market is that they mainly take measurements in the flowing medium. PT sensors from First Sensor are characterized by a high repeat accuracy in both pressure and temperature measurement, especially in fuel vapor as a resting medium, meaning that they are currently unique on the market and in their application. As a result, system costs are reduced and the reliability of the application for the customer is increased.
Based on MEMS pressure sensor chips from semiconductor production in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, the innovative sensors produced at First Sensor Mobility GmbH in Dresden in accordance with IATF 16949 detect minimum pressure and temperature changes in the fuel tank. Key customers such as a French Tier-1 supplier are already qualifying a solution that has been adapted for them.
“As one of the leading suppliers of pressure sensors, we use our solid expertise in chip design and production as well as microelectronic packaging in order to provide key customers on the growth market of mobility with powerful technologies for low-emission and low-consumption mobility. We already equip the plug-in hybrids of all German as well as many European OEMs with our pressure sensors,” said Dr. Dirk Rothweiler, CEO of First Sensor AG.
Wilhelm Prinz von Hessen, Vice President of Mobility at First Sensor AG: “The trend toward environmentally friendly mobility is accompanied by increased demand for powerful in-vehicle sensors.”