Comstar Automotive Technologies, manufacturer and supplier of automotive starter motors, has developed the world’s lightest starter motor for passenger cars. The growing focus on environment with tighter emission norms and light-weight components has become the platform for technological innovation in starter motors also. The new 1.5kg starter motor is expected to replace the 2kg unit now in the market. In order to meet the growing challenges and to bring more innovative products, Comstar is setting up its R&D centre in Chennai.
The company’s in-house R&D team has been challenged with ‘the under 2kg starter motor’ target. The team made it in 12 months by adopting the optimisation rule in the choice of materials and design. The team used plastic components and magnesium alloy replacing metal components and aluminium. The company has to get to work with a lot of simulation and FEA techniques for finding approximate design solutions to ensure the unhindered performance of the motor.
“The 1.5-kg motor is the first sub-2kg starter motor developed for passenger cars anywhere in the world. It is 100% ‘Made in India-Made for the world’ product using indigenous resources and capabilities.The new starter motor has achieved weight and size reduction.