Throughout a media working day for Magna International’s “Tech 7 days,” we acquired to go to the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, to test push some of the agreement manufacturer’s electrified tech. This involved a GMC Sierra 2500 transformed to a BEV working with Magna’s Etelligent Force 4WD powertrain. With it, we ended up in a position experience the system’s 14,500 lb towing capacity and drive some other one of a kind EVs far too.
Magna Intercontinental and its electrified technologies
Even if you haven’t listened to of Magna International, it’s a harmless wager you’ve driven a car or truck that includes at lease one particular element the deal company has manufactured. All through its “Tech Week” event in Pontiac, Michigan, Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri thorough some of the company’s creation numbers.
In overall, Magna has generated more than 3.7 million motor vehicles across thirty different versions for 10 distinctive OEM buyers such as the likes of Ford, Rivian, GM, and before long, Fisker. In 2021 on your own, Magna garnered $36 billion in product sales, solidifying its title as the major deal producer in North America and the fourth premier in the environment.
As the automotive industry as a whole is shifting dramatically towards electrified styles, Magna has followed go well with. By developing every little thing from electrified powertrains, to battery enclosures, and ADAS programs, Magna is delivering numerous OEMs with the engineering and parts to go all-EV. Listed here is a brief recap of some of the electrified tech we’ve included from Magna in the earlier:
Tests electrified types in Michigan with Magna
Following covering this electrified technological know-how from afar, Magna Intercontinental was good sufficient to invite us out to the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, to encounter it very first hand. This incorporated Magna’s eDS Very low CE 3-in-1 eDrive entrance axle procedure, at the moment existing on the Volkswagen ID.4.
What is great about this electric powered motor is that it made with no rare earth supplies, creating it a lot more sustainable and value efficient.
Behind that EV in line was a Tesla Model S outfitted with Magna’s EtelligentDrive program. This 3-in-1 eDrive method makes use of a motor at the entrance axle and two in the rear joined by a summation gearbox with clutch-primarily based torque vectoring. The end result is a Tesla sedan with 480 kW of full ability that was crafted many years just before the Product S Plaid arrived out it currently sits as an early example of Magna’s electrified abilities.
1 of the a lot more attention-grabbing BEVs available to drive through Magna’s function was the Arcfox αT, an electrified model bought in China as component of a joint venture involving Magna and Beijing Electric Auto Co. Ltd (BJEV).
I acquired to push the FWD version around the M1 Concourse and was excited at the possibility to push a Chinese EV, a market place I have a particular adoration for. The style alone felt incredibly European, and I assumed it was a smooth travel all-around. Practically nothing also flashy or lavish, but practically nothing to scoff at possibly. The total functionality good quality was definitely obvious.
The twin-motor, AWD variation of the αT arrives with a battery potential of 67.3 or 93.6 kWh, offering NEDC ranges in between 525-708 km (326-440 miles). It can speed up to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds and access a major speed of 180 km/h (~112 mph).
Towing with Magna’s Etelligent Pressure technological innovation
The one electrified model most of the journalists had been clamoring to push was the GMC Sierra geared up with Magna’s EtelligentForce technologies. Magna had two of the Sierra’s offered to generate, so my first few laps had been in the electrified pickup with no the trailer to knowledge the truck by itself.
EtelligentForce is a fall-in 4WD powertrain procedure for passenger vehicles and light-weight business automobiles that electrifies the vehicle’s capabilities without having compromising its payload or towing.
Magna’s eBeam is component of the program and can guide in OEMs electrifying current ladder frame chassis with no obtaining to begin above with a ground up system. eBeam also can help supply 14,500 lbs of towing ability, which was on show at M1 all through our exam drives.
Whilst people will shortly be in a position to acquire an all-electric powered GMC Sierra Denali pickup, we obtained to knowledge the towing know-how early using a combustion product GMC Sierra 2500 manufactured electric powered with Magna’s EtelligentDrive powertrain swapped in.
The electrified pickup drove smoothly, featuring regenerative braking although towing over 10,000 lbs . on a trailer driving it. Magna’s EtelligentDrive procedure is accessible on Class 1 to 6 automobiles. Here’s the electrified GMC pickup in action:
Magna’s foreseeable future outlook for EV tech
Following hearing from the company’s CEO, there’s a great deal to be optimistic about as Magna continues to expand its arsenal of EV technological innovation. Its eDrive components will appear in a lot more and extra EVs from OEMs likely ahead, such as the Fisker Ocean which commences manufacturing with Magna in Austria this fall. More cars include an unnamed OEM in China in 2023 (Magna now companies for NIO and XPeng, so it is likely just one of those people two), and an American OEM in 2024.
A major aim of Magna searching in advance will be its battery enclosures, which have by now been produced and carried out in EVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning and GMC Hummer EV pickup. Magna’s CEO wouldn’t elaborate on what upcoming versions it would present enclosures to, but the enterprise is confident it will go on get the job done with those people identical automakers in the foreseeable future.
Kotagiri described that Magna’s manufacturing of enclosures is both equally content and processing agnostic, indicating it can structure and develop EV battery enclosures to any customer’s specifications.
The best portion is, each and every EV needs just one, so Magna is in a lucrative position to give to the growing demand for this kind of factors. Kotagiri also shared that Magna is investing about $500 million to extend battery enclosure assembly strains above the future 3 decades.
Total, this was a awesome excursion to Michigan to see a bunch of the EV tech – that we have lined for many years – operate in genuine everyday living. There is a good deal to be high on at Magna, as the company proceeds to make dollars hand in excess of fist with no indicators of slowing down as it shifts towards electrification.
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