Automation key to overcoming EV manufacturing challenges

The transition to electrical autos (EVs) is a difficult path for automotive producers. Lengthy-established firms which have historically produced autos with combustion engines are actually venturing into a wholly new realm of car platforms. There are a variety of key challenges going through the EV manufacturing trade, however the excellent news is that revolutionary options are on the horizon.

Guaranteeing adequate house to construct the brand new autos

Because the manufacturing of EVs introduces new platforms, producers face the complicated problem of plant capability. Further stations could be added to manufacturing traces to supply plug-in hybrid autos as they share some commonalities with inner combustion engine traces. For firms manufacturing full battery electrical autos (BEVs), reusing present traces isn’t an possibility because of the solely completely different car construction. They would want to determine a devoted plant primarily based on projected manufacturing volumes or the set up of a specialised line inside an present facility for BEVs.

Automation presents an answer to optimise house utilisation, permitting automakers to maximise effectivity with out the necessity for brand new services. Automation options can dramatically enhance flooring house utilisation by making it attainable to retailer elements in ways in which may be tough for a human to achieve.

Coaching the workforce for the longer term

The introduction of latest car platforms within the period of EVs requires completely different manufacturing processes, which suggests substantial capital funding. Many producers proceed to supply conventional inner combustion engines, including complexity and value, but it surely’s essential given present market tendencies. Whereas outsourcing the battery element could also be an possibility, most main automakers choose in-house manufacturing of important components, like inner combustion engines, for scalability and high quality management. Because it’s turning into clear that EVs are right here to remain, main EV automakers will wish to be much less reliant on exterior suppliers for such a important car component.

One other problem is assembly the demand. Merely discovering sufficient employees is difficult sufficient—and on high of that, it’s essential to present each new and present employees specialised coaching, notably for functions that cope with high-voltage electrical cable connections.

Automation and versatile manufacturing options will help unlock employees from non-value-added duties in order that they will concentrate on reskilling. For instance, autonomous cellular robots (AMRs) can take over the duty of retrieving elements from shelving in order that workers not must waste time strolling lengthy distances to retrieve the elements manually.

Estimating ranges of demand for the brand new autos

With EVs being comparatively new to the market, the automotive trade lacks historic knowledge that may reliably estimate the annual manufacturing quantity wanted to satisfy shopper demand for a specific EV mannequin. In consequence, these estimates are extra of an informed guess at this stage.

Which means that EV firms’ manufacturing traces should be very scalable and versatile. What may start as a low-volume manufacturing might all of the sudden rise in demand. That demand might then peak in a short time. Such fast shifts could name for retooling, and funding in additional manpower, a brand new house devoted particularly to the brand new car, or all the above. Versatile manufacturing options are designed to minimise the prices and downtime related to car changeover, handle innovation whereas persevering with to assist legacy wants, and assist firms keep aggressive in a quickly altering market. This adaptability empowers automotive firms to stay aggressive in a swiftly evolving market. For example, collaborative robots could be simply tailored to a wide range of duties, serving to to minimise gear changeover.

EV manufacturing was once seen as a distant risk, however that’s not the case. In line with Reuters, the marketplace for EV battery elements is projected to doubtlessly attain US$250bn by 2030. Automotive producers should now deal with the problem of assembly growing demand whereas additionally fostering innovation.

The opinions expressed listed below are these of the writer and don’t essentially replicate the positions of Automotive World Ltd.

Stanley Neilen is Industry Market Supervisor for Automotive at at OMRON, a number one participant within the subject of automation

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