Promising Project Pursues the Objective to Make the UK an EV Powertrain Leader

GKN Automotive, Drive System Design and the University of Nottingham joined forces on a promising project for the automobile industry. The main objective of this $10 million endeavor named ACeDrive is to produce an innovative powertrain solution for electric vehicles (EVs).

The group of engineers, working on this project, set a goal of making ACeDrive the most lightweight and the most powerful EV powertrain, which will meet the needs of the global auto market. To reach these objectives, British engineers use innovative tech solutions in cooling and integration of the main parts, thereby achieving a considerable decrease in the number and size of used elements. If we talk about numbers, the project presupposes a 25% cutting in both packaging dimensions and expenses, a 20% decrease in weight, and a 10% growth in operational capacity when compared to existing analogs.

Already working on the required product characteristics, the consortium is planning to reach the level of technology and operational characteristics corresponding to the highest environmental and technical requirements, and provide the product for potential customers by 2023. The project managers expect that the final product will include a minimized e-motor, fine-tuned gearbox unit, and HF inverter combined in a single unit, allowing comprehensive cooling, within a space saving housing. It not only ensures benefits related to more compact design and cost-cutting, but also reduces the rate of inner friction and enhances the level of gearbox adjustment.

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GKN Automotive is in charge of the ACeDrive unit construction development, including e-motor, inverter and gearbox. After thorough simulation and assessments, the final design will be ready in late 2019. Creation of the pilot version and operational tests are scheduled for next year. If everything goes well, the product will be showcased to the public in early 2021.

According to GKN officials, the efforts of all parties are aimed at the creation of the sophisticated eDrive unit, notable for more space-saving and capital saving technologies. The project is assumed to help the UK take the leading role in e-powertrain development and manufacturing. The Drive System Design representative also stated that the engineering concept for this project will help to combine next-gen elements, innovative integration and a high-speed motor, to provide enhanced power density and effectiveness with lower expenditures for OEMs.