GKN Automotive partners Delta Electronics for advanced eDrive technology

L-R: Liam Butterworth, CEO, GKN Automotive; Hannes Prenn, COO, ePowertrain, GKN Automotive; Simon Chang, COO, Delta Electronics; James Tang, VP and GM of Electric Vehicle Solutions Business Group of Delta Electronics

GKN Automotive, a global supplier of electric drive, all-wheel drive and driveline technology and systems, and Delta Electronics, a power and thermal management solution provider, are going to jointly develop and enable the rapid acceleration of next-generation integrated 3-in-1 eDrive systems of power classes from 80kW to 155kW.

The joint development of advanced eDrive technology will see inverters supplied by Delta Electronics integrated with GKN Automotive's eMotor and gearbox systems in a 3-in-1 solution. Further aligning the two companies is a shared dedication to systems weight and packaging volume reduction, and a focus on simplifying OEM assembly processes for easier and better-quality component installations. The collaboration between these two industry-leading companies will significantly increase their technical capabilities and accelerate time to market.

Liam Butterworth, CEO of GKN Automotive, said: "The eDrive market continues to accelerate as manufacturers are required to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations demanding technological progression and speed. Our collaboration with Delta represents a significant milestone in the expansion of our portfolio of scalable, integrated 3-in-1 eDrive solutions and our capabilities in rapidly bringing new cost competitive technologies to market."

Simon Chang, COO of Delta Electronics added: "Delta is dedicated to enabling low-carbon green transportation by providing EV powertrain solutions and power electronics products, including traction inverters, traction motors, on-board chargers, DC/DC converters, and EV charging solutions to the market. We're pleased to work with the leading company GKN Automotive to produce integrated eDrive units for the next generation of electric and hybrid vehicles."

Delta Electronics has confirmed that the new collaboration will centre on the development of two new integrated eDrive families for application across different torque classes for the next generation of hybrid and electric vehicles. Within three years, the new 3-in-1 eDrive units will be available for start of production in a multitude of vehicle types, from A-segment city cars to D-segment executive cars and SUVs, supporting a range of torque outputs from 2,000 Nm to 3,800 Nm, with nominal power outputs of between 80 kW to 155 kW. These solutions will cover a large proportion of the future eDrive market, which is projected to be worth more than GBP12 billion (Rs 110,826 crore) by 2030.