Last month BMW introduced a $1.7 billion funding to construct at the very least six battery-powered fashions at its plant in Greer, S.C., by 2030. The mission consists of home sourcing of next-generation batteries and development of a $700 million battery-pack meeting plant in close by Woodruff, S.C.
Post and his crew should assist the suppliers for BMW’s combustion engine automobiles adapt their companies to offer as many EV elements as attainable. Using the present provider base is crucial as a result of these firms have the know-how, mentioned Post, who has a doctorate in mechanical engineering.
“It’s not a big issue to bring them to transformation,” he mentioned. Combustion engine elements suppliers can repurpose a manufacturing unit to provide housings and bearings for electrical motors, whereas suppliers engaged on engine cooling can adapt their know-how to cooling batteries.
But within the case of EV powertrain elements similar to battery cells and electrical motors, BMW desires to develop these applied sciences in-house or faucet into a brand new ecosystem of suppliers.
“A lot of new technologies you cannot easily buy on the market,” Post mentioned, noting the automaker is growing electrical motors and battery-pack meeting in-house.
“This is a key technology for us,” he added. “It’s important for us to have the know-how in the company for that.”
Source: www.autonews.com