Vitesco’s drive control unit powers Volkswagen ID.3 electric car

Vitesco Technologies, a global supplier of powertrain technologies and electrification solutions is looking to be at the forefront of electric mobility. The company has developed new server-based drive control unit for the Volkswagen Group’s new modular electric drive platform (MEB). Vitesco’s drive control unit is being used for the Volkswagen ID.3 electric vehicle.

Wolfgang Breuer, executive VP – Electronic Controls business unit, Vitesco Technologies said: "This product makes us part of Volkswagen's electrification ecosystem, which is proof of our strong system and electronics expertise across the entire vehicle propulsion system and beyond.”

In the Volkswagen ID.3, Vitesco’s device assumes a number of key functions in the electric propulsion system: it activates the electric motor, coordinates all commands initiated by the accelerator pedal, plays an integral part in charging and energy management as well as the management of the high-voltage electrical system. It also acts as an interface to the other control units inside the vehicle. The device also allows connectivity with the outside world to enable software updates, and functional enhancements at any time in the field. As a result, in addition to functional safety, great attention was also placed on cyber security during the development of the new component.

Vitesco says the new drive control system has been developed on the back of many years of electronics expertise, which showcases its prowess in both software development and integration expertise. The product not only contains software components developed by Vitesco Technologies, but also serves as the integration platform for software parts provided by Volkswagen, to seamlessly ensure the overall device function. Through closely interlinked and trustful collaboration between their respective engineering teams, both companies were able to bring the control unit to production within approximately two years.

The component will go into series production in further electric vehicles from the carmaker’s other Group brands using the MEB platform. The company is setting a clear strategic focus on electronics and electrification technologies with an attractive product portfolio that will cover all electrification scenarios in the coming years.

Breuer added, "We've already applied our outstanding expertise in electronics and mechatronic, as well as our understanding of complete powertrain systems to electrified and electric drives. Control systems and the efficient interaction between complex devices will continue to be at the heart of our development."

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