The most popular electric drive within the Group at present is the APP550, used for example in Volkswagen’s ID. family as well as in the Škoda Enyaq and CUPRA Tavascan. To date, one million units of the APP550 have been manufactured at the Group Components plant in Kassel. This drive system is raising the bar in the Volkswagen Group’s volume segment in terms of efficiency, driving dynamics and acoustics. Despite having the same dimensions as the predecessor model, it consumes around 20 percent less energy but increases torque and power by around 75 percent and 40 percent respectively – a marked improvement with respect to range, acceleration and noise levels. In series production the APP550 delivers up to 240 kW and up to 560 Nm. The combined oil and water cooling system optimizes temperature control without requiring an additional pump. The APP550 success story reaffirms that the Volkswagen Group worldwide upholds the highest standards of quality in vehicle development and production.
The Volkswagen Group’s integrated network is responsible for the entire development of the electric drive systems – from engineering and industrialization to power electronics and all the way up to logistics. Centers of expertise in this network such as the Volkswagen Group Components plant in Kassel help to bring key technologies like electric drives and pulse inverters into series production.
Group’s own pulse inverter to be used for electric drives in the Electric Urban Car Family
The pulse inverter that the Volkswagen Group is independently launching is a key component of electric drive systems. The inverter developed by Volkswagen Group Components will have advantages over externally sourced inverters by allowing for faster product development, cost reductions and more independent production – for future electric drive systems across multiple brands. What is more, using silicon carbide as a semiconductor material in the new APP290 electric motor will deliver noticeable benefits for the models in the Electric Urban Car Family (including the ID. Polo, Škoda Epiq and CUPRA Raval) by increasing their range and improving performance in everyday driving. Currently, the APP290 electric motor developed and manufactured within the Group is expected to be available for several performance levels ranging from 85 kW (116 PS) to 166 kW (226 PS). It uses 400V technology.