The chair “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components” (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University is collaborating with Marelli. The recent framework agreement will focus on new technologies for electric vehicles and related manufacturing processes. The Japanese-Italian company is considered one of the world’s leading independent automotive suppliers.
“It takes strong networks and a pioneering spirit to drive great innovation,” said Professor Achim Kampker, founder of PEM and Head of the Institute. “We are pleased to have gained an excellent partner to push the electric drive forward.” Marelli has launched a new plant for electric vehicle motors in Cologne, Germany, in the first half of the current year. For this, the company has already worked with experts from nearby Aachen. Within their new framework agreement, Marelli and PEM plan to collaborate on specific research projects like increasing the permanent performance of electric motors and developing a new e-motor and its production in a so-called scale-up factory.
As PEM has a leading role in the German research production of battery cells in Münster, a collaboration on energy and battery management for electric vehicles is also targeted. Marelli claims to have long-term experience in this area as a leading supplier of thermal management solutions. “With this new cooperation, two pioneers of vehicle electrification are joining forces,” said Joachim Fetzer, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Marelli. “While RWTH’s PEM chair is known for its profound expertise in this field, Marelli has a unique offering as a full system provider for electric powertrains, complemented by our thermal and battery management solutions.” With around 58,000 employees worldwide, the Marelli footprint includes 170 facilities and R&D centers across Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa, generating revenues of 10.4 billion Euro in 2020.
