FLEETDRIVE
INNOVATION HUB
SEAT ’ S ELECTRIFICATION
AUTOMOTIVE F-RAM
Volkswagen Group of America ( VWGoA ) is intensifying its research efforts in the United States to advance electric mobility and sustainable transportation innovation . The company ’ s Innovation Hub in Knoxville , Tennessee , plays a pivotal role , collaborating with the University of Tennessee ( UT ) and Oakridge National Lab ( ORNL ) on projects such as AI-optimised material structures to increase the range of electric vehicles , paper-based materials for recyclable vehicle interior design , new fibre composites for lightweight vehicle parts , and high-power wireless EV charging concepts .
Launched in 2020 , the Knoxville Innovation Hub brings together researchers from Volkswagen , UT faculty , doctoral students , and ORNL scientists to drive co-innovation in applied materials research . This investment in research centres aligns with Volkswagen ’ s growth strategy and commitment to fostering talent and innovation , contributing to the global innovation ecosystem of the Volkswagen Group .
SEAT S . A ., as part of its electrification plan , has applied for the new Battery PERTE VEC and proposed a battery cell assembly plant in Martorell , Spain . The project is expected to create over 400 direct jobs and more than 100 indirect jobs . The company will invest an additional 300 million euros in the facility , which will also assemble cells manufactured at the PowerCo gigafactory in Sagunto , Valencia .
The battery assembly plant will cover 64,000 square metres and be connected to Workshop 10 , where SEAT will manufacture electric cars , including the CUPRA Raval , optimising logistical processes and reducing the carbon footprint . Construction is set to begin soon and aims for completion by 2025 .
The company sees this facility as a crucial step towards achieving sustainable mobility and turning Spain into a hub for electric mobility in Europe , calling for public-private collaboration and supportive legal frameworks to ensure investment and competitiveness in the sector . SEAT has already taken steps in this direction , including significant investments in electrifying the automotive industry and creating jobs in the country .
Infineon Technologies has introduced two new Ferroelectric RAM ( F-RAM ) memory devices , with 1Mbit and 4Mbit densities , to meet the growing demand for specialised data-logging memory in the automotive event data recorder ( EDR ) market .
These devices are the first automotivequalified serial F-RAMs available in the industry . They are designed to instantly capture and reliably store critical data for decades , making them ideal for applications like airbag safety systems , engine control , and battery management systems in vehicles .
The new F-RAM devices feature fast and highly reliable read / write performance at speeds up to 50 MHz in SPI mode and up to 108 MHz in Quad SPI ( QSPI ) mode . With an endurance of 10 trillion read / write cycles , they support data logging at 10 microsecond intervals for over 20 years . The devices are AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified and can operate within an extended temperature range of -40 ° C to + 125 ° C .
Additionally , they come in a standard 8-pin SOIC package , with low power consumption , and are designed to retain data for over 100 years after a power loss , ensuring the secure storage of crucial information in automotive systems .
ISSUE 41 JULY 2023 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 27