Playing a star role at this year’s OPTIMAL stand at Automechanika Frankfurt will be the company’s range of parts for electric and hybrid vehicles. On the stand, D50 in Hall 6.0, OPTIMAL will also be showing new ranges for wheel drive components and CV joints.

Since the introduction of a specialist catalogue for parts for electric and hybrid vehicles in 2016, OPTIMAL has been significantly increasing its range in this area to provide comprehensive coverage across the high performance parts requirements for this new generation of vehicles. The latest version of the Catalogue (WBM-3015) for electric and hybrid vehicles includes more than 1,500 references. It covers more than 30 brands and 150 vehicle models, including well-known electric cars such as the BMW i3, Renault Twizy, Smart, Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S as well as typical hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius, Audi A8 2.0 TFSI Hybrid or Mercedes S 400 Hybrid and many more. All of these parts are also detailed on TecDoc and on other electronic catalogues.

For the first time at Automechanika, OPTIMAL will also be presenting its wheel drive components range which includes; driveshafts, joint and bellows sets. These wheel drive components can be purchased individually or as a complete ready to install kit. The high flexibility of the new products allows different types of bellows to be used depending on requirements. A choice can be made between rubber or plastic sets made from TPE.

Another important new addition from OPTIMAL being shown in Frankfurt will be flexible couplings. OPTIMAL now offers new flexible couplings, drawn from a wide range of rubber-metal parts. The company says the innovative combination of cord packs, rubber and steel sleeves ensures a better driving experience.

Also known as Hardy discs, named after their inventor, John Leslie Hardy, these parts are used in vehicles with rear wheel or all-wheel drive and are connected to the longitudinal shaft via the integrated precision steel sleeves. The special construction of the OPTIMAL flexible couplings in the form of innovatively arranged cord packs, a special rubber compound and high-quality steel sleeves enables the compensation of not only misalignments and axial play but also of juddering movements when starting the shaft or changing speed. This allows irritating vibrations and “juddering” to be avoided while driving.

The range offers excellent market coverage and for popular vehicle applications from BMW and Mercedes, OPTIMAL also offers flexible couplings in a special quality.