Volvo Cars plans to cut costs for its electric vehicles by using “mega castings,” the company announced on Thursday. This technique, similar to Tesla’s giga casting, employs massive presses to create large aluminum parts for vehicle underbodies, according to Anders Bell, Volvo’s chief engineering and technology officer.
By using large, single components, the company aims to reduce expenses by eliminating the need for multiple individual pieces that would otherwise require welding.
Tesla pioneered the use of giga casting, and other automakers like General Motors and Nissan are adopting similar approaches. Bell noted that mega casting will also allow Volvo to significantly increase its use of recycled aluminum and lower emissions across its supply chain.
In addition, Volvo plans to utilize a single software system for all future models, powered by advanced chips from Nvidia. The flagship electric EX90 model, which Volvo will begin delivering this month, will feature the first implementation of this unified technology stack. The EX90’s software is powered by Nvidia’s Drive Orin chip, capable of performing over 250 trillion operations per second (TOPS), with an upgrade to a 1,000 TOPS chip expected later in the decade.
Bell stated that the new software will enhance Volvo’s safety systems and allow for continuous improvements through over-the-air updates. While many automakers see software-defined EVs as a way to generate additional revenue through subscription services, Bell emphasized that Volvo is not pursuing that model. “Our main goal is to make the car better and create a more compelling product, not to focus on selling subscriptions,” he said.
Leave a comment