Eberspaecher Puts Speakers Into Car Mufflers

NOVI, Mich.--(Business Wire)--
Traditional muffler systems may someday become obsolete with the
development of active noise-canceling technologies, according to
Eberspaecher, a leading supplier of automotive heating and exhaust
systems based in Esslingen, Germany.

After years of intense development, Eberspaecher's
ActiveSilence(R) noise-canceling technology may soon find its way into
dealership showrooms, according to Martin Romzek, Eberspaecher vice
president - Development.

Eberspaecher's ActiveSilence system is based on a principle used
in headphones worn by some airline passengers to cancel out irritating
noise. The auto supplier inserts a speaker into a vehicle's exhaust
system to create counter waves to sound waves from the engine. The
waves cancel each other out, while at the same time generating a more
pleasant overall sound from the engine and exhaust system.

The company has worked on several ActiveSilence demonstration
projects both internally and with various automakers, Romzek reports.

"In addition to remarkable acoustic flexibility and performance,
our systems have demonstrated significant reductions in exhaust-system
back pressure compared to traditional systems," he says. "Since the
typical acoustic principles of restriction or reflection within the
exhaust flow are unnecessary, we're able to eliminate power loss
typically associated with 'quiet' exhaust systems.

"Efficiency improvements due to limited backpressure can be used
to boost horsepower and/or improve fuel economy. In one demonstration
project using our ActiveSilence in a standard sedan, we saw a four
percent improvement in both engine power and fuel economy."

The Eberspaecher executive notes that while demonstration programs
have shown remarkable improvements in system performance and in some
cases weight savings, it is the continued development of control
systems as well as improvements in durability performance that
currently has captured the attention of automakers.

Eberspaecher, for example, has developed speakers that can survive
temperatures upwards of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Its systems operate in
one of the most hostile car environments where they are exposed to
extreme heat and vibration.

Since the temperatures in an exhaust system can approach 1,500
degrees Fahrenheit, the speaker is thermally isolated in an auxiliary
pod. Yet, it can still project noise-canceling sound waves into the
exhaust stream.

Romzek notes that in North America, the Eberspaecher ActiveSilence
system offers automakers engine performance benefits as well as
potential weight savings which will help automakers meet new federal
fuel-economy targets set by Congress in 2007.

In Europe, automakers are looking at the technology as an
enhancement feature. They may use it to program their vehicles' sound
characteristics. ActiveSilence also would benefit hybrid electric
vehicles, which have complex powerplants.

"In a hybrid, where the conventional engine is being turned on and
off, the unusual sounds can be disconcerting to motorists," Romzek
said. "Eberspaecher's ActiveSilence can generate a consistent sound
from the vehicle.

"Conventional mufflers will be around for many years, but active
noise-canceling technologies soon will emerge on niche vehicles,
providing designers with greater packaging flexibility."

Headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, the Eberspaecher Group
reported annual revenues of $3.1 billion in 2007. The company's two
operating divisions - Exhaust Technology and Vehicle Heating - have
5,500 employees working in 19 countries. Eberspaecher is a leading
systems developer and supplier to automotive and commercial vehicle
manufacturers around the world. More information is available at
www.eberspaecher.com.

AutoCom Associates
Larry Weis or Jan Krol, 248-647-8621
E-mail: lweis@usautocom.com or jkrol@usautocom.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008