Car of the Year stretches its range with Gates
The electrically powered Opel Ampera and its US counterpart the Chevrolet Volt, recently won the European Car of the Year feature Stretch Fit™ belt technology from Gates, in their drive systems to increase efficiency.
Stretch Fit™ belts render belt tensioners superfluous, reducing the metal content and overall construction costs. The subsequent weight reduction and improved engine efficiency makes a significant contribution to lowering fuel emissions.
Gates Regional Sales Manager Nick Racklyeft says: “The quality provided by the Stretch Fit™ belts is exactly what car manufacturers are looking for in their efforts to produce more compact engines with less weight, lower fuel consumption and less emissions.”
Gates currently supplies 41 Stretch Fit™ belt references to the UK aftermarket.
In addition to the belts, Gates has developed four re-usable tools that provide essential support across all 41 belts in the range. Correct installation of elastic belts for each application demands the use of specialist tools.