Gentherm To Feature Prototype Thermoelectric Cartridge for Waste Heat Recovery At Frankfurt International Motor Show

NORTHVILLE, Mich. and ODELZHAUSEN, Germany, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Gentherm Incorporated (NASDAQ-GS: THRM), the global market leader and a developer of innovative thermal management technologies, announced today it will feature its latest thermoelectric generator cartridge design for converting waste heat to electrical energy at the 65^th annual International Motor Show September 10-13 in Frankfurt, Germany in Hall 4.1, Booth D23.

Gentherm is leading a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded project to develop a solution for capturing automobile waste exhaust heat and converting it to electrical energy to power electrical systems within the vehicle and to improve fuel economy.  Partnering with Gentherm is Tenneco, a global developer of clean air and ride performance products and systems for the automotive industry, and two global vehicle manufacturers.

The project calls for Gentherm to supply modular, cylindrical-shaped thermoelectric cartridges that convert waste heat from the exhaust into electricity.  Tenneco then integrates the cartridges inside a thermoelectric generator (TEG) that includes a unique heat exchanger.  Tenneco will be displaying the complete TEG at its booth in Hall 5.1, Stand A16.

"Our new TEG cartridge design is the result of several years of research with the DOE and other important partners," said Gentherm President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel R. Coker.  "We believe it is a breakthrough technology that has applications in a variety of global industries, but especially for automobiles in terms of reducing CO₂ emissions, improving fuel economy and providing a new source of much-needed electricity.  We are now working closely with Tenneco to integrate our thermoelectric cartridges into a new and innovative exhaust system design."

In a typical internal combustion engine, approximately 30 percent of the fuel energy is used for actual vehicle propulsion, while more than 70 percent is lost, about half of it through the vehicle's exhaust system.  Thermoelectric generators help capture a portion of the lost energy, convert it to electricity and redistribute it to electrical systems in the vehicle, which can ultimately support improved fuel efficiency.

Inside the new TEG system, thermoelectric material is sandwiched together within the cartridges and exposed to hot exhaust gas on one side and to engine coolant on the other side. The temperature gradient over the thermoelectric material results in an electrical current flow, which is then redistributed to the vehicle. The cartridges use semiconductor materials that are abundant and environmentally benign. "The modular design of the TEG cartridges enables packaging scalability depending on vehicle design, making it more cost-effective to integrate into the vehicle's exhaust system," said Dr. Dmitri Kossakovski, Gentherm's R&D director and leader of the power generation team located in Azusa, California.

The U.S. DOE consortium anticipates that initial demonstrators will be available in 2014.

Visit Gentherm in Hall 4.1, Booth D23.

About the Frankfurt IAA
The International Motor Cars Show (IAA—Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung) is the world's most comprehensive show of the automotive industry, created for everyone who develops, manufactures or uses passenger cars. A special feature is the large presence of suppliers throughout the entire automotive value added chain. More than 300 exhibitors from the supply industry will be presenting their products.

About Tenneco
Tenneco is a $7.4 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 25,000 employees worldwide.  Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of clean air and ride performance products and systems for automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket.  Tenneco's principal brand names are Monroe®, Walker®, XNOx™ and Clevite®Elastomer.  

About Gentherm
Gentherm (NASDAQ-GS:THRM) is a global developer and marketer of innovative thermal management technologies for a broad range of heating and cooling and temperature control applications. Automotive products include actively heated and cooled seat systems and cup holders, heated and ventilated seat systems, thermal storage bins, heated seat and steering wheel systems, cable systems and other electronic devices.  The Company's advanced technology team is developing more efficient materials for thermoelectric and systems for waste heat recovery and electrical power generation for the automotive market that may have far-reaching applications for consumer products as well as industrial and technology markets.  Gentherm has more than 7,000 employees in facilities in the U.S., Germany, Mexico, China, Canada, Japan, England, Korea, Malta, Hungary and the Ukraine.  For more information, go to www.gentherm.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements regarding future activities, new products, customers, markets and technologies, future revenue growth and profitability, and other forward-looking opportunities. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with risks associated with departing key employees, failure to develop new sales, products, customers or technologies increased costs of raw materials and components, new competitors and general adverse conditions in the industries in which the Company operates. Those and other risks are described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained from the Company. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE Gentherm