Electrification

Three major trends are accelerating the electrification revolution, which is affecting how energy is produced, stored, distributed and consumed. First, the rise of electric mobility in the form of electric vehicles and more electric aircraft is changing propulsion systems, replacing and augmenting traditional mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic drive systems with electric alternatives.

Second, breakthrough advances in the performance of industrial electric machines, and electrification of industrial processes which consume a large proportion of global electricity, aim to increase energy efficiency and use more electricity for process heat. An integrated approach to electrical motors and drives as a system, including controls, is increasing efficiency in industrial and manufacturing machinery.

Third, the energy production from low-carbon sources, including renewable sources, continues to increase its share of the energy generation mix relative to nuclear and traditional carbon-based sources. More and more, these new, distributed electricity generation sources are being integrated with existing grid and distribution systems.

Because of these three trends, major components of electrification systems must be designed, integrated and operated in new ways. The focus must be on the entire system — from energy production and storage to consumption — powering the electrification of transportation, industry, building and manufacturing.

Engineering simulation is a key technology to accelerate the market introduction of these disruptive technologies, reduce development costs and deliver a better, more reliable product. Fully integrated engineering simulation tools and a consolidated simulation platform enable companies large and small to apply engineering simulation to the entire system, not just to the component.

Explore the assets on this page to understand the critical role engineering simulation plays in accelerating the pivot to electrified systems.

Electrification: Achieving Next-Level Performance

Global prosperity requires reliable energy at a reasonable cost, and few engineering challenges are as critical as producing, distributing and consuming energy more efficiently. With the stakes high and timelines short, engineering simulation is the only solution for delivering the required innovation in engineered electrical systems that span energy generation, distribution and consumption. Engineering simulations enable product developers to analyze multiple physics, perform hardware and software co-design, study performance at both the component and system levels, and make intelligent trade-offs that balance energy efficiency improvements with cost, time-to-market and performance considerations. Leveraging simulation software for:

E-Mobility - revving up automotive powertrain performance and innovating the more electric aircraft
Sustainable renewable energy generation
Producing greater efficiency in industrial machines

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Volkswagen Motorsport Sets Record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Using ANSYS Simulation

Engineers at Volkswagen Motorsport used a six-step multiphysics simulation design process to develop an electric race car that achieved a stunning, record-breaking victory in the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. On June 24, 2018, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak car negotiated the 156 sharp bends on the 12.42 mile course in in less than 8 minutes at 7:57:148, smashing not only the electric vehicle record by more than a minute but also the overall record by over 16 seconds.
Using ANSYS Twin Builder and ANSYS Fluent, Volkswagen Motorsport engineers designed a battery pack that:

Had enough power to reach the high speeds necessary to break the record
Could complete the entire course without running out of charge
Could be recharged in about 30 minutes if the race was interrupted

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Driving Change in the Age of Electric Vehicles

Manufacturers worldwide have accelerated the production of electric vehicles (EVs), ranging from cars to two-wheelers to buses. Between 2016 and 2017, sales of EVs grew by 54%. It is predicted that there will be up to 228 million EVs worldwide by 2030. When compared with more traditional build-and-test approaches, simulation has an overwilling impact on development time and cost. Read about how engineering organizations assess the value of simulation, and the role simulations will play in developing all-electric vehicles.

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Lucid Air and ANSYS: The Full Potential of Electrification

In this video testimonial, Lucid Motors' CTO Peter Rawlinson describes how they reduced the development time of the Lucid Air luxury EV from 7 years to 3 using ANSYS multiphysics simulations. Rawlinson’s absolute confidence in the fidelity of virtual models of EVs simulated using ANSYS tools has convinced him that engineers can learn so much more from a virtual prototype than a physical prototype.

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