Page 43 - MetalForming April 2020

Need Video to Support Your Website and Social Media Platforms?
structure, it enables OEMs to focus resources on other systems.”
Modular Architectures Affect Designs
One money-saving method already employed by OEMs: modularity, including skateboard standardization across platforms or simplified overall platforms. You may even see an EV skateboard on display at GDIS, hints Catterall.
“There’s a direction across automo- tive OEMs toward global and modular architectures to spread the investment across as many vehicles as possible,” says Catterall. “EVs may be even more standardized because OEMs will want as few battery packs as possible, just like the ICEs of today. OEMs seek to minimize the number of engines need- ed due to their high investments, and they seem intent on using the same strategy with battery packs and electric drive systems.
“Don’t be surprised to see modular battery packs purchased from a Tier One,” he continues. “Many OEMs already have gone in that direction. This brings the potential of many OEMs buying their core battery packs from the same company.”
Still, these packs must be integrated into each OEM’s vehicles and inter- faced with the other vehicle systems. This leads to design challenges. Again, as the packs must be protected from impacts during crashes or kicked-up rocks and debris, and suffer no amount of compression, they’ll be subject to a host of engineering requirements. And, as prevailing designs position these packs in floor panels, the floors sit above the existing heights of side sills, observes Catterall.
“The higher floor heights will entail what’s called stadium seating, which most customers like,” he says. “A trend in SUVs, this puts occupants higher off the ground and gives a higher stance to the vehicle. Where do we attach the seats? Do they integrate into the bat- tery-pack structure? Designers and engineers will have to decide as they develop these architectures.” MF
Fact: The “Play” button
is the most compelling feature on the web;
72 percent of B2B
buyers and researchers watch videos to support their buying decisions.
Yes,
Let MetalForming magazine help.
Now available, in partnership with
Toth Media, LLC:

Request a quote today— e-mail @pma.org
www.metalformingmagazine.com
MetalForming/April 2020 41