Where Innovation Meets Imagination
An ABB-sponsored report predicts that plans for 80 new electric vehicle battery gigafactories will be “insufficient” and that battery production needs a “significant boost” to meet growing global demand.
The report highlights role of automation in meeting demand as EVs are predicted to overtake internal combustion engine-powered vehicles by 2036. [Read more…] about Global EV battery production needs ‘significant boost’ to meet growing global demand
Sustainable plastics will make up more than 15 percent of production by 2030, according to a new report by Lux Research.
Future projections of a circular economy emphasize that a combination of recycled and bio-based resources will serve as a feedstock for plastic needs, says the market analyst.
However, it adds that in order for the “idealistic future” to be realized, there must be a major investment in new technologies, including advanced recycling tech and bio-based plastic capacity. [Read more…] about Sustainable plastics will make up more than 15 percent of production by 2030, says report
ZF has unveiled the next generation of its ZF ProAI Supercomputer, designed to make vehicles more intelligent.
The automotive parts giant showcased the new kit at the recent Auto Shanghai exhibition and describes as “the world’s most powerful automotive supercomputer”.
Dr Holger Klein, ZF board member for the Asia-Pacific region, says: “It is currently the most flexible, scalable, and powerful automotive-grade supercomputer in the world.” [Read more…] about ZF unveils ‘world’s most powerful automotive supercomputer’
The BMW Group and Nvidia are generating a completely new approach to planning highly complex manufacturing systems – with the Omniverse platform.
The virtual factory planning tool integrates a range of planning data and applications and allows real-time collaboration with unrestricted compatibility.
As industry leaders, the BMW Group and Nvidia say they are “setting new standards in virtual factory planning”. [Read more…] about BMW and Nvidia develop ‘next level’ virtual factory planning
Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, is planning to make a “more than $2.3 billion investment” to build its second battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The facility will be located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Ultium Cells will build the new plant on land leased from GM. The new battery cell plant will create 1,300 new jobs. Construction on the approximately 2.8 million-square-foot facility will begin immediately, and the plant is scheduled to open in late 2023. Once operational, the facility will supply battery cells to GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant.
Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO, says: “The addition of our second all-new Ultium battery cell plant in the US with our joint venture partner LG Energy Solution is another major step in our transition to an all-electric future. [Read more…] about GM and LG invest $2.3 billion in second battery manufacturing plant in US
Automotive parts and systems manufacturer Continental and Amazon Web Services will be working together going forward within the scope of a new development cooperation.
The goal of the long-term collaboration with AWS serving as the preferred cloud provider is to develop Continental Automotive Edge (CAEdge) – a modular hardware and software platform that connects the vehicle to the cloud and features a virtual workbench offering numerous options to develop, supply and maintain software-intensive system functions.
This will allow drivers to integrate the functions they want going forward during the entire service life of their vehicle by downloading quick and convenient software updates. [Read more…] about Continental and Amazon Web Services create platform for automotive software
The Volkswagen Group Components plant in Braunschweig is significantly expanding its production of battery systems for the latest electric vehicle generation. Following the first expansion stage with a maximum capacity of 250,000 battery systems, the second expansion stage has started up with the same capacity.
This means that once the site is fully ramped up it will now be able to fit up to 500,000 batteries a year for models based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) – in this case for the fully electric Volkswagen ID.31 and ID.42, as well as the Škoda Enyaq iV3, which should soon be quietly and powerfully cruising the streets of Europe with a battery heart from Braunschweig.
In addition to that, up to 100,000 battery systems for the beloved models e-up!4, SEAT Mii electric5, Škoda Citigoe iV6 and as well as for hybrid vehicles such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE7. [Read more…] about Volkswagen expands production of battery systems
ANYbotics, the Swiss robotics company, is launching its new “end-to-end robotic inspection solution” for operators of energy and industrial processing plants – the ANYmal D.
While demand for lower downtime and better safety increases on production sites, technologies have not yet caught up with the complex structures of industrial facilities.
ANYbotics says its new fully autonomous four-legged robot ANYmal and it’s inspection analytics software provide a scalable solution to automate routine condition monitoring of equipment and infrastructure. [Read more…] about ANYbotics introduces new canine robot for inspection work
Porsche Engineering, technology service provider and wholly owned subsidiary of Porsche, is using games engines from the computer games industry to develop the intelligent vehicle of the future.
Game engines – popular examples include Unity and Unreal – generate photorealistic images and ensure the physically correct behavior of objects in computer and video games.
Among other uses, Porsche Engineering utilizes these software packages for the virtual development and testing of highly automated driving functions. [Read more…] about Porsche Engineering developing ‘intelligent vehicles’ with computer games engines
Ridecell, a provider of automation for vehicle fleets, has launched its Fleet IoT Automation, which it describes as “the first IoT driven automation platform designed specifically for fleet-based businesses”.
Fleet IoT Automation integrates data insights with digital vehicle control to turn today’s manual processes into automated workflows.
The result is a self-acting fleet digitalization system that doesn’t just create alerts around issues or opportunities but helps the operations and business teams configure intelligent automation to respond to revenue opportunities and resolve fleet issues proactively. [Read more…] about Ridecell launches ‘first ever platform’ to convert vehicle data into automated operations
