Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), in collaboration with battery maker Danecca and computational science specialist Altair, is pioneering a novel design process for electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK. The research consortium, supported by funding from the UK Faraday Battery Challenge, aims to create a prototype development process that maximizes space for batteries without additional weight, leveraging Altair’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Altair’s suite of products, including the C123 three-stage concept development process, the OptiStruct finite element analysis (FEA) solver, and the HyperWorks design and simulation platform, will play a crucial role in JLR’s project. By applying these tools, the consortium aims to optimize the body-in-white structures of EVs, contributing to weight reduction and enhanced energy efficiency.
Royston Jones, Senior Vice President of Automotive at Altair, emphasized the significance of the simulation and data analytics tools in developing a new design process for EVs and batteries, ultimately leading to lighter and more energy-efficient vehicles.
Commencing in February 2023, the project is set to conclude in early 2025. The collaborative effort extends beyond the prototype development phase, with the companies expressing their commitment to continuous exploration of improvements through simulation, even after ordering components for the prototype vehicles.
In a separate development, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) and JLR, both subsidiaries of Tata Motors Limited, recently inked an agreement to utilize JLR’s 800V EMA platform. This platform will debut in the Avinya electric car, marking the beginning of an expanded ‘Premium Pure Electric’ vehicle series.