New competitors, political unrest, industry changes, and evolving consumer expectations can all force businesses to reimagine how they deliver their services. GETTY
CRA Innovation & Technology Explored
By Matt Hudson
According to multiple recent reports VW is developing a new single battery EV platform that will be able to support multiple models, including an autonomous sedan.
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As the top OEMs make big promises on electrification, it makes sense that some might want to get the most bang for their buck to focus on a single platform. This is, after all, a significant revision of the traditional vehicle powertrain and structure.
VW’s will be named SSP, which stands for Scalable Systems Platform, reports Motor Authority. It will be the evolution of the current MEB platform, which underlies the ID.4, and the more premium PPE platform. The company will begin with a standardized battery cell design in 2023.
Project Trinity
The VW ID.4 turned heads as the company’s current production-ready EV offering. Looking ahead toward this new platform, VW is already teasing a high-tech sedan that will be based off the SSP and is planned for a 2026 release. It’s name is Project Trinity.
Volkswagen says this model will “set standards” for range, charging speed and digitalization. That includes plans for Level 4 autonomy (brush up on the autonomy levels here). That means fully capable, driverless travel.
“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many people and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet – for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” says Ralf Brandstätter, VW CEO, in a press release.
Little else is known about Project Trinity at this time, but it’s clear that VW sees this model as a turning point for the technology that will appear in future EVs. It’s important to note that VW is putting a lot of emphasis on its software development in addition to the hardware elements.
Repairers Take Note
Looking at an EV landscape that now includes General Motors’ Ultium Drive platform and Hyundai’s E-GMP, there’s a real desire among OEMs to be leaders in EV development.
Each company wants to create the best platform and have it all to itself. That means proprietary technology, parts, and software. As shops already know from ADAS work, there isn’t a lot of crossover between OEMs for the use of tools and equipment. Shops might look more closely at specializing in certain makes and models if they can’t afford to buy into multiple OEM ecosystems.
Right to Repair regulations could help to open up compatibility a bit, but the extent is unclear right now.
Image: VW
Article Credit to Adapt Automotive.
What are your thoughts on the EV landscape with regards to repairs? Technology is pricy and the specialised technology, parts and software will be a challenge for small and local businesses, how do you plan to overcome these obstacles? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you found our content informative, do like it and share it with your friends.