UK Government’s Faraday Battery Challenge Funding Enables Development of Lighter EV Prototypes Using Altair Simulation, Enhancing Battery Space Without Extra Weight.
Altair, a leader in computational science and AI, has received funding from the U.K. government’s Faraday Battery Challenge in partnership with JLR and battery manufacturer Danecca. This funding is part of a collaboration forming a consortium for a research project aimed at creating a new design process for electric vehicles (EVs). The project is financially supported by UK Research and Innovation, a body under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, focusing on advancing battery technology in the U.K.
The initiative will utilize Altair’s technology to create prototypes of EVs with lighter bodies that provide increased space for batteries without extra weight. JLR will implement Altair’s C123 process, a unique development approach for body-in-white structures, and use Altair OptiStruct for optimization, a feature of the Altair HyperWorks design and simulation platform, which includes new electrothermal features.
Royston Jones, Altair’s senior vice president of automotive, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the role of Altair’s simulation and data analytics tools in fostering the development of lighter, more energy-efficient EVs and batteries.
Paul Haney, JLR’s senior manager for battery technology, also shared excitement about the project and the government funding, emphasizing the project’s contribution to sustainable e-mobility.
Danson Michael Joseph, managing director of Danecca, noted the opportunity this project presents for advancing EV and battery technology. He pointed out how Danecca’s expertise in battery manufacturing, combined with Altair’s tools, will lead to more efficient battery installations for future EVs.
The project, spanning from February 1, 2023, to January 31, 2025, will focus on continuous improvement through simulation even after ordering prototype components. Post-project, JLR, Danecca, and Altair will retain all research outcomes, applying them to other customers or projects.
