ABB: R&D Center for E-Mobility opened in Delft

The Swiss technology conglomerate ABB has opened a 3,600 square meter development site on the campus of the Technical University in Delft, Netherlands. In the $10 million complex, the company aims to advance innovations in the field of electromobility, develop its future portfolio in this sector, and implement R&D projects for electric vehicles. In 2020, TU Delft ranks among the world's top 15 universities in the areas of engineering and technology. Concurrently, ABB is investing $30 million in a global competence and production center for EV charging infrastructure in Italy, which is set to open in 2021.

"We have located our E-mobility Innovation Lab on the TU Delft campus because we are surrounded by the best technical talents and the most exciting startups in the Netherlands," explains Frank Mühlon, Head of ABB's global E-Mobility Infrastructure Solutions business.

The complex offers space for up to 120 specialists and marks the return of the EV charging technology business to its origins. In fact, the founders of Epyon (the EV charger startup acquired by ABB in 2011) were former students of TU Delft. ABB's Electrification business area invests around $400 million annually in research and development to set standards in the field of sustainable mobility. The new lab is expected to enhance collaboration with electric vehicle manufacturers and further advance performance and progress in this field, says Mühlon. The seamless interaction between vehicles, charging stations and networks, and the power grid and supporting software systems is of high priority.

The building is equipped with state-of-the-art technical facilities to ensure that ABB chargers are compatible with all types of vehicles. To this end, special simulators have been built, enabling 95 percent of all tests to be conducted on a digital copy of the vehicles. To test how vehicles behave in extreme heat or cold, the company has developed special environmental test chambers. Vehicles are exposed to extreme conditions such as temperatures from -40 to +100°Celsius and high humidity. The atrium allows manufacturers to drive their cars, buses, and trucks into the warm and controlled test environment. This will help advance the development of charging technologies for the fast-growing segment of heavy-duty electric vehicles, the company is confident.

The building itself also meets high environmental standards

The building standards are also high in sustainability. For heating and cooling purposes, the ABB complex is connected to TU Delft's geothermal heating and cooling system. Solar panels with inverters will be installed on the roof to convert the direct current generated from solar energy into alternating current. Along with the building management system for climate and lighting control and an ABB battery storage system, this allows for the feedback of test energy into the grid.

In November, the company announced that it plans to increase spending on research, development, and digital innovations to around 5 percent of annual revenue, focusing on growth segments including electromobility. ABB employs around 7,000 people in research and development worldwide, with 60 percent focused on software and digital innovations. The provider has been active in the EV charger market since 2010 and has sold more than 17,000 fast DC chargers in 80 countries to date. The company is also the title partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in its fourth season. Starting from the ninth season (2022-2023), ABB will be the official supplier of charging solutions for the racing series.