The hybrid demo vehicle BMW presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show contains Visteon's (www.visteon.com) electrically driven air conditioning compressor, which fits into the package space of the belt-driven compressor used in conventional powertrains. Visteon said the unit enables automakers to minimize the complexity of integrating an electric compressor into hybrid derivatives and to provide full thermal comfort in hybrid vehicles during engine-off modes.

The same basic packaging dimensions for the electric motor and power electronics work for either 120V DC or 288V DC applications, so the compressor can be used for mild (lower voltage) or full/plug-in hybrid (higher voltage) applications. The modularity extends to the mechanical portion of the compressor and allows a second design for alternative refrigerants such as R744 to be used with the modular electric motor and power electronics.