Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division is launching the 100% EV initiative to drive innovation in e-mobility. With 73 countries committed to reducing their carbon emissions to zero by 2050, the automotive industry is now challenged to both meet legislative ambitions and develop successful models. Hexagon's initiative promises rapid innovation towards new classes of vehicles that are superior to the internal combustion engine, overcoming the performance and cost concerns of buyers.
Hexagon's development, design and manufacturing technologies are used by industry leaders such as Volkswagen and Bosch and are already applied in more than 75% of vehicles produced today - from optimized efficiency in the development and production of new electric vehicle powertrains to quality testing of new batteries for longer ranges. Through 100% EV, Hexagon is pooling its technologies and expertise to help manufacturers integrate these processes and accelerate the electrification of mobility worldwide.
Experts predict that electric vehicles will account for a third of the automotive market by 2025. However, buyers still have concerns about range and need convincing arguments to buy, especially given today's prices. This creates new expectations in terms of ease of use and driving comfort as well as further innovations. Car manufacturers plan to launch around 400 new battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2025, requiring efficient methods to develop electric vehicle platforms and models without generating uneconomical costs.
Such a paradigm shift makes it essential to build on today's development and design processes, which represent the zenith of 100 years of progress in the automotive industry. At the same time, new concepts are required that integrate existing production lines and suppliers in order to guarantee the same quality and safety as before for the new vehicles, regardless of extremely tight time frames.
Paolo Guglielmini, President of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence business unit, says:
We are convinced that the path to a clean and sustainable future can and should be accelerated by 100% electric mobility with the help of innovation. The automotive industry is rallying its forces to meet tight deadlines for the introduction of electric vehicles, but is also struggling with the complexity of producing new vehicles that will attract potential buyers.
"EV development has only just begun. There is a race to build better and more customized models, and we want to help companies think beyond current practices and gain market share. Such rapid change can only be realized through smart manufacturing technologies that support the development of electric vehicles from concept to customer, while also getting us to the goal of 100% electric mobility faster and more cost-effectively."
With Hexagon's 100% EV solutions, the automotive industry will successfully meet the new challenges of electromobility. Examples include optimizing the efficiency of electric powertrains, mechanical design, lubrication, precision machining, optimizing vehicle acoustics to avoid engine noise, and optimizing manufacturing and quality control to produce more efficient batteries and electric motors. These solutions will bring together fragmented development processes and previously isolated disciplines. They will enable the introduction of new technologies on a broad front even before the statutory targets are met.
