Automotive supplier, Marelli, has signed a framework agreement with RWTH Aachen University, a leading German technical institute, for collaboration on developing new technologies for electric vehicles as well as related production technologies.
“With this new cooperation, two pioneers of vehicle electrification are joining forces,” said Joachim Fetzer, Marelli’s chief technology and innovation officer. “While RWTH’s PEM chair [Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components] is known for its profound expertise in this field, Marelli has a unique offering as a full system provider for electric powertrains, which is complemented by our thermal and battery management solutions.”
Marelli opened a new electric vehicle motor facility in Cologne, Germany, earlier this year, which involved input from experts from RWTH Aachen, located nearby. Within their new framework agreement, Marelli and PEM plan to collaborate on specific research projects such as increasing the permanent performance of electric motors, as well as the development of a new electric motor and its production in a so-called ‘scale-up’ factory.
As PEM has a leading role in Germany’s research of production battery cells, a collaboration on energy and battery management for electric vehicles is also targeted. Marelli has experience in this area as a supplier of thermal management systems.
“It takes strong networks and a pioneering spirit to drive great innovation,” said Professor Achim Kampker, founder of PEM and head of Institute. “We are pleased to have gained an excellent partner to push the electric drive forward.”
