Altair-JLR-Danecca research consortium awarded funding to create a new design process for EVs

Altair, a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI), together with JLR and battery manufacturer Danecca, has been awarded funding from the U.K. government through the Faraday Battery Challenge.

The three companies have developed a consortium to support a research project to develop a new design process for electric vehicles. The project funding comes from UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to support the development of battery technology in the U.K.

The new process will leverage Altair technology to develop vehicle prototypes. The new vehicle models will have a new, lighter body that offers more room for the battery without adding additional weight.

JLR will also apply Altair’s C123 process, a unique three-stage concept development process for body-in-white structures. They will also perform optimization with Altair OptiStruct – a leading FEA solver in the Altair HyperWorks design and simulation platform – utilizing the solution’s newly developed electrothermal features.

“We are excited to collaborate with JLR and Danecca on this innovative project to support the next generation of electric vehicles, with innovative, efficient designs,” said Royston Jones, senior vice president of automotive, Altair. “Altair’s simulation and data analytics tools will enable the consortium to develop a new design process of electric vehicles and batteries, which will help make these vehicles lighter and more energy efficient.”

“We are thrilled to be part of such an innovative project and to have received funding from the U.K. government through the Faraday Battery Challenge,” said Paul Haney, battery technology senior manager, JLR. “This research project with Altair and Danecca marks an important step forward in creating electric vehicles that deliver sustainable e-mobility for the future.”

"By partnering with Altair and JLR on this innovative project, Danecca has the chance to advance the development of electric vehicles and battery technology," said Danson Michael Joseph, managing director, Danecca. “Our expertise in battery manufacturing, combined with Altair; simulation and optimization tools, will enable us to create more efficient battery installations that can power the next generation of electric vehicles.”

The project runs from February 1, 2023, to January 31, 2025, and will continuously explore how to make improvements through simulation after the components for the prototype vehicles have been ordered. All research results will stay with JLR, Danecca, and Altair after the funded project period and can be used for other customers or projects.