Germany-based automotive parts manufacturer, Continental has signed a strategic partnership with DeepDrive to develop core technologies for electric vehicles (EVs).
As a part of the partnership, both companies will jointly develop a combined unit comprising drive and brake components for mounting directly on the vehicle wheel. DeepDrive is a specialist in the development of efficient electric motors, with many years of experience in large-scale automobile production. Continental, in turn, contributes its technological know-how in brake systems and its expertise in the industrialization of innovative technologies.
Speaking on the partnership, Matthias Matic, Head of Continental’s Safety and Motion Business said, “With DeepDrive, we have gained a strong partner with whom we can jointly and sustainably advance the market penetration of electric mobility. “The electric motors developed by DeepDrive extend the range of electric vehicles. They are lighter, more economical, and more resource-efficient. Combining all that with our efficient, high-performance brake technology to produce a new, compact unit is a decisive contribution to the success of electric mobility. What belongs together grows together here.”
Commenting on the development, Felix Poernbacher, Co-founder and Managing Director of DeepDrive said, “We are convinced that the development of our dual-rotor motor will revolutionize the electrification of motor vehicles. The strategic partnership with Continental makes it possible to combine our drive system with the brake technology needed to create an innovative electric component essential to the mobility of tomorrow. The soaring demand for such technology demonstrates that this is the right way to go.”
Both companies see potential in their collaboration as the electrification of vehicles makes it possible in the future to place all chassis functions, including the drive, directly on the wheel. To best implement the different requirements of electric vehicles, such as maximizing the range while minimizing installation space and simultaneous modularity, comprehensive optimization at the vehicle level is necessary. The optimal coordination of the brake and drive system makes a decisive contribution here. The integration of both elements in one unit enables a particularly high level of efficiency in the drive and when braking.
Moreover, integrated components reduce complexity through modularization and facilitate the manufacturing process. The partnership between the companies was initiated by Continental’s Corporate Venture unit (co-pace). The Corporate Venture unit also participated in the Munich-based company as a financial investor in a Series-A financing of DeepDrive that was completed at the beginning of the year.