Siemens and Volvo Car Corporation launch electric mobility partnership

The permanent magnet synchronous motor from Siemens has its first application in the Volvo C 30 Electric. Click to enlarge.

Volvo Car Corporation and Siemens intend to jointly advance the technical development of electric cars through an extensive strategic cooperation. The focus is on the joint development of electrical drive technology, power electronics and charging technology as well as the integration of those systems into Volvo C30 Electric vehicles.

The first electric cars of this model fitted with Siemens electric motors will be on the test tracks as early as the end of this year. Beginning in late 2012, the Swedish carmaker will deliver a test series of up to 200 vehicles to Siemens, which will then be tested and validated under real-life conditions as part of a Siemens internal test fleet.

Drive and motor frame. Click to enlarge.

Siemens is developing a scalable product family of permanent magnet and asynchronous motors for electric vehicles with continuous power rating from 30–80 kW. The Siemens electric motors developed for Volvo have a peak power output of 108 kW (62 kW continuous) with a rated torque of 119 N·m (88 lb-ft) and maximum torque of 220 N·m (162 lb-ft). The motor weighs 50 kg, and is packaged in a specially developed, crash-tested frame with the transmission—a compact, single-stage planetary gear from Getrag with differential and drive shaft through the hollow shaft—and inverter in front of the vehicle.

The Siemens inverters for automotive applications are compatible with all permanent magnet and asynchronous motor types. They are scalable for different power classes up to 80 kW at 400 V. Click to enlarge.

The inverter design will be jointly optimized to meet all safety requirements in an automotive application. In addition, Siemens will provide efficient and fast on-board and off-board charging systems.

The partnership gives Siemens the chance to extend its industrial leadership in electric drive technology into the automotive market, while Volvo will be relying on proven and efficient Siemens technology for the electrification of its future vehicles.

Cooperation with Volvo is an important milestone in the development of top-quality components and systems for electric cars subsequently intended for series production. It is our long-term goal to establish Siemens as a global system provider both inside and outside of electric vehicles. We see ourselves as a comprehensive electric mobility pioneer.

—Siegfried Russwurm, Siemens Board member and CEO of the Siemens Industry Sector

Volvo Car Corporation starts small-scale production of the Volvo C30 Electric this year, and next year the company will start selling the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

This means that we are moving from prototypes and small volumes towards series production, starting with the plug-in hybrid. Our upcoming new Scalable Platform Architecture paves the way for electrification throughout our model range.

—Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO at Volvo Car Corporation

Source: Green Car Congress