Siemens and Volvo are the latest companies to announce a major partnership for the development of electric vehicles (EVs).
They plan to work together on electrical drive and charging technology, and power electronics – as well as the integration of those systems into Volvo C 30 Electric cars.
The partnership gives Siemens an opportunity to expand its electric drive technology – developed for industrial uses – into the automotive market. And Volvo gains a partner with deep technical experience and strong financial backing.
The first Volvo C 30 vehicles fitted with Siemens electric motors are scheduled to begin testing by the end of the year.
In late 2012, Volvo says it will deliver 200 test vehicles to Siemens, which will then test and validate them in real-life conditions as part of its internal test fleet.
Siemens’ electric motors will be modular and compact with a peak power output of 108 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 220 Newton meters.
The two companies will jointly optimize inverter design and Siemens will provide on-board and off-board charging systems.
Siemens drive technology has been used for decades in many mobility solutions, including railway systems and hybrid buses. The Siemens Drive Technologies Division has over 36,000 employees and a global production network with 43 locations.
The Siemens portfolio for electric mobility covers everything from regenerative electricity generation and smart grid to charging infrastructure and intermodal traffic management.
Siemens also says it is continuing to work on industrializing hydrogen production for fuel cells as part of its comprehensive strategy for sustainable electric mobility.
Its goal is to convert temporary excess energy from renewable energy generation into "green" hydrogen. which can then be used in industrial applications and fuel cell vehicles. It could also be used in battery-powered EVs through an energy re-conversion process.
Last month, General Motors announced a partnership with Korea’s LG Electronics to design and engineer EVs. And Ford and Toyota are working together on the next generation of hybrid drive systems for light trucks and SUVs.
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