The evolution of vehicle performance engineering in the electrical age

The transition to autonomous and electric vehicles creates new challenges for the automotive industry and performance engineering. In the past, manufacturers have been used to developing two or three new models each year. Now, how to keep up with growing demand and remain competitive in the age of electrification? To take the example of Toyota, the manufacturer aims to develop thirty new electric vehicle models by 2030.

An electric engine is much simpler than a combustion engine in some respects. There are far fewer moving parts. You just need to combine a motor with a battery and an inverter, and you’re ready to go.

For higher efficiency and performance of electric vehicles, the inverter, motor, and gearbox are all put into one container. Previously, engineers from several different specialisms worked very separately. But now, they have to come together to ensure their components complement each other perfectly. First, you have the electronics, electromagnetic, and mechanical engineers. And then you have software engineers working on the controls for all the components.

So, how do you get all these people from different backgrounds and skillsets to work together? How to optimize vehicle performance and keep up with the challenge of developing many more models than before?