The Chrysler Group has joined with the Canadian government and McMaster University to develop next-generation, energy-efficient, high-performance electrified powertrains and powertrain components. The partnership was announced by Canada’s Minister of State for Science and Technology, Greg Rickford, with matching investments by Chrysler and the Canadian government.
Chrysler will put up $9.25 million in cash and contributions while another $8.93 million will come from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Through the Automotive Partnership Canada program, the money will go to researchers at McMaster University, which will also see 20 engineers from Chrysler Group’s Global Electrified Powertrain Group join their ranks for the duration of the project. A total of 7 McMaster research engineers, 16 faculty members, and 80 graduate and undergraduate engineering students will also be involved in the project.
To advance Chrysler Group’s electrification strategy, the partnership will develop multiple prototypes of critical components, platforms and tools that will strengthen the company’s future product lines. Six facets of vehicle electrification will be explored:
Electrified powertrain architecture and optimization- Power electronics
- Electric machines
- Motor control
- Energy management systems
- Embedded software
Technologies that emerge from the partnership are expected to have several commercial applications through a variety of powertrains and vehicle segments. Energy storage, specifically ultracapacitors, will also be of focus.
The project is in three phases, with each building on the last and will conclude in March of 2018.
This cooperative project builds on Chrysler’s participation in a multi-manufacturer consortium with the Canadian government which explores the wider use of weight-saving alloys in automotive and transportation.
