Electrical expertise at BMW

Electrical expertise at BMW

The reliability of electronic systems is a central issue in the further development of e-mobility. The proportion of electrical and electronic components in vehicles has increased explosively in recent years. Especially in electric vehicles, electromagnetic fields are becoming the focus of development engineers to a degree that did not exist in previous vehicles. In addition to the drive components such as the battery, electric motor or the inverter, other systems in the vehicle are connected to the high-voltage electrical system, such as steering, air conditioning or onboard chargers. The interference fields generated can affect other electronic systems, such as those for driver assistance or radio and telephone reception.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) ensures that all of these systems function smoothly and safely without interfering with each other. Intensive research is now being carried out in the development center at the BMW Group plant in Steyr. "What emission technology was in the area of ​​combustion engines, electromagnetic compatibility is in electric drives. We are massively expanding our competencies, investing in new testing facilities and also relying on research collaborations," says the head of the development center Josef Honeder. An absorber chamber is currently being built in the development center. Here, electric drives are exposed to strong electromagnetic fields in order to test their interaction with the environment and to provide them with comprehensive protection. Completion of the complex construction is scheduled for the end of 2025. At the same time, the BMW Group Steyr plant is conducting research as a corporate partner in the recently opened “Christian Doppler Laboratory for Electromagnetically Compatible Robust Electronic Systems” at the Institute of Electronics at Graz University of Technology with a team led by laboratory manager Jan Hansen using AI to optimize electronic vehicle drives in a wide variety of environments.

At the BMW Development Center in Steyr, 700 employees are researching the drives of the future. "The majority of our team is currently working on electromobility topics, such as high-performance electric drives for the BMW Group's future vehicles. We are also responsible for thermal management for all of the BMW Group's new electric vehicles, the development of inverters or applications for driving behavior," says Josef Honeder. Research and development to maintain innovative strength in the area of ​​diesel engines remains one of the core tasks of the development center. In 2023, the BMW Group brought 24 new vehicles onto the market. The development center team was involved in over 60% of these attempts. In addition to efficient combustion engines, electric drives for the BMW Group's new vehicles will also be built in Steyr in the future. Pre-series production will start in the summer of this year, and series production will begin in 2025. Preparations for this are in full swing.