(1)

On 27 May 2015 the supplier Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), represented in the Union by Mitsubishi Electric Automotive Europe B.V. (the ‘Applicant’), submitted an application for the approval of its second innovative technology: the MELCO motor generator. The completeness of the application was assessed in accordance with Article 4 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 (2). The application was found to be complete and the period granted to the Commission for its assessment of the application, pursuant to Article 10(2) of that Regulation, started on 28 May 2015.

(2)

The application has been assessed in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009, Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 and the Technical Guidelines for the preparation of applications for the approval of innovative technologies pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 (3) (the ‘Technical Guidelines’). The information provided in the application demonstrates that the conditions and criteria referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 and in Articles 2 and 4 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 have been met.

(3)

The MELCO motor generator has a generator function similar to a regular alternator. As compared to a baseline alternator, it reduces stator copper loss by way of an ultra-high fill-factor stator manufactured by an ultra-high density wire winding method and by way of a new 2-way cooling structure. It also reduces stator iron loss by way of a thin and high-grade electromagnetic steel stator core. Finally, it reduces rectification loss by way of a new Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect-Transistor module.

(4)

The Applicant has demonstrated that a motor generator of the kind described in the application was fitted in 3 % or less of all new passenger cars registered in the reference year 2009 in accordance with Article 2(2)(a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011.

(5)

In order to determine the CO2 savings that the innovative technology will deliver when fitted to a vehicle, it is necessary to define the baseline technology against which the efficiency of the innovative technology should be compared, as provided for in Articles 5 and 8 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011. In accordance with the simplified approach chosen by the Applicant and described in the Technical Guidelines, it is appropriate to consider a 12 V alternator with 67 % efficiency as the baseline technology, as designated by the Applicant.

(6)

The Applicant has provided a methodology for testing and calculating the CO2 reductions which includes formulae that are consistent with the formulae described in the Technical Guidelines for the simplified approach with regard to efficient alternators. In order to accurately determine the statistical significance the formula should however also take into account the need to evaluate the mass of the motor generator as compared to the mass of the baseline alternator (i.e. 7 kg). In order to ensure that the same weighting factors and speed points are used, the manufacturer should, for the purpose of certifying the savings, provide evidence that the speed ranges of the MELCO motor generator are consistent with those applicable to alternators. Such methodology will provide results that are verifiable, repeatable and comparable and it is capable of demonstrating in a realistic manner the CO2 emissions benefits of the innovative technology with strong statistical significance in accordance with Article 6 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011.

(7)

Against that background, the Applicant has demonstrated satisfactorily that the emission reduction achieved by the innovative technology is at least 1 g CO2/km.

(8)

The savings of the innovative technology may be partially demonstrated on the standard test cycle, and the final total savings for the purpose of the certification of a vehicle fitted with the innovative technology in accordance with Article 11 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2011 should therefore be determined in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 8(2) of that Implementing Regulation.

(9)

The verification report established by the accredited technical service UTAC, which is an independent and certified body, supports the findings set out in the application.

(10)

Therefore, no objections should be raised as regards the approval of the innovative technology in question.

(11)

For the purposes of determining the general eco-innovation code to be used in the relevant type approval documents in accordance with Annexes I, VIII and IX to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), the individual code to be used for the innovative technology approved by this Decision should be specified,