AVL invests 50 million euros to develop test solutions for sensor tech in EVs and SDVs

The global automotive industry is experiencing a green transformation. Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular. Today, one in 10 newly registered cars on Europe's roads is already purely electric. By 2030 a total of 38 million electrified passenger cars could be rolling down the streets.

This also increases the demand for efficient microelectronics for electrified, but also automated and connected vehicles. AVL is now investing over 50 million euros (Rs 412 crore) in testing and validating new semiconductor chips, sensors and power electronics for battery-powered and software-defined vehicles as part of the EU-approved Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) ME/CT. Among other things, the focus is on cybersecurity.

To develop and manufacture more energy-efficient and reliable microelectronics components and communication systems for sustainable and digital mobility in Europe is one of the goals supported by the EU Commission through the IPCEI ME/CT, which has just been approved and is funded by the participating member states with a total of 8.1 billion euros (Rs 66,800 crore). Up to 175 million euros will be made available in Austria – a considerable portion of which will go to AVL.

Over the next four years, AVL will invest massively in research and realisation of high-precision hardware- and software-based development tools and validation technologies for chips, sensors and power electronics. These are needed for self-driving, battery-powered vehicles.

"With the increasing degree of automation of vehicles, the number of sensors and thus the data to be processed is growing. Completely new test strategies and solutions need to be developed," said Andreas Klug, Head of R&T at AVL. In addition, the connected vehicle will be exposed to an ever-growing amount of cyberattacks. AVL is active in the aera of cybersecurity as well. Another focus lies on increasing the efficiency of battery-powered vehicles. “We pay attention to optimizing the interaction of all components of the electric powertrain,” added Klug.

AVL and IPCEI projects

AVL is currently involved in a total of three IPCEI projects. In ‘Hy2Tech’ the focus is on the development of hydrogen technologies. In ‘BICnextGen’, the company is focusing on the development of more efficient and sustainable batteries. Here, AVL’s Battery Innovation Center serves as a European laboratory. Within the scope of these projects, the company cooperates with more than 20 national and international universities as well as non-university research institutions, such as the Graz University of Technology, the University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum and Silicon Austria Labs, among others.