Teijin signs a Joint Development Agreement with AEV Robotics to Co-develop Lightweight Automotive Solutions for Future Transportation
July 19, 2019
Teijin Limited announced that it has signed a joint development agreement with an Australian venture AEV Robotics (AEV). In the first two years, Teijin and AEV will develop elemental technologies for the envisioned vehicle.
The agreement is all about creating lightweight components and solutions for next generation transportation to realize new forms for transportations in aging society. The components will use advanced materials such as polycarbonate resin, carbon and aramid fibers, and composite technologies owned by Teijin and its group companies including Continental Structural Plastics for innovative structural design. Teijin will also contribute specialized knowhow about heat management to optimize weight reduction and heat insulation and for sound absorption. Teijin will also apply expertise in supporting participation of Kogakuin University Solar Team in the world’s biggest solar car race.
The Modular Vehicle System of AEV will serve as the foundation for a de facto standard for next-generation vehicles that will achieve the Well-to-Wheel Emission goal established by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). AEV is concurrently developing a highly efficient electric vehicle platform and autonomous driving system that realize low-speed electric vehicle (LS-EV) for use in various fields, such as medical care, logistics and industry, as well as conventional transportation.
Teijin, through this co-development project, expects to continue striving to be a company that supports the society of the future, particularly by offering new solutions for automotive applications based on advanced materials and structural design required for next generation EVs.
In recent years, EVs have rapidly progressed as a practical solution for environmental load reduction based on the concept of connected, autonomous, shared and electric (CASE) next-generation automobiles. In addition, the role of automobiles is evolving under the concept of mobility as a service (MaaS), which views transportation as a total service.
In response to the problems of traffic accidents caused by seniors in urban areas and pedestrian vulnerability in rural areas, as well as traffic congestion, environmental degradation and advancing urbanization in Japan caused due to fast-aging societies, METI launched its Strategic Commission for the New Automotive Era with the aim of strengthening the global competitiveness of Japan’s automotive industry. The Well-to-Wheel Zero Emission has been established by the ministry as a long-term national strategy for Japan to achieve the world’s highest level of environmental performance, including green processes for producing gasoline and electric power sources for automobiles, by 2050.
Such developed innovative ideas and construction methods coming from AEV are not offered by major OEMs. The unique engineering capabilities of AEV will be applied toward developing simple, lightweight solutions for the chassis, suspension and steering. Teijin will present the Modular Vehicle System by AEV at the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2019 Nagoya, which will take place from July 17 to 19.
Source: Tejin