Electric Vehicles (EVs) are in the spotlight worldwide. Since the onset of the pandemic, the demand for EVs has grown rapidly, with stakeholders globally incentivising its production to develop smart, sustainable cities that are environmentally friendly.
In India, Japanese MNC Suzuki Motor announced its foray into the EV market with a plan to invest ₹10,440 crore (US$12,003,035) to produce electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries last year. Tata Motors, the largest seller of electric cars in India, is betting big on this space and has incorporated a separate EV subsidiary Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEML), which will focus on passenger and hybrid vehicles. Tata Motors plans to invest US$2 billion into this subsidiary over the next five years.
Similarly, Mahindra and Mahindra has announced its plans to invest ₹3,000 crores (US$36,50,49,000) in EVs in the near term. With the conversations around EV growing and how it’s the future of mobility, the widespread adoption would also depend upon how the auto manufacturers enable holistic digital transformation.
In Europe, e.GO has initiated a disruptive, tech-first approach to closed-loop manufacturing. This has reduced errors and time to market with improved design change management.
Here’re five ways in which Indian EV manufacturers can learn from their holistic approach to digital transformation leveraging Augmented Reality.
Need for a digital thread spanning every part of EV production
A digital thread brings forth a communication framework supporting a connected data flow accessible view of an asset’s data throughout its lifecycle. By weaving their organisation with digital thread (spanning every part of their business from engineering and manufacturing to end-customer experience), EV manufacturers can enable the communication and review of data forward and backwards through enterprise processes, including supply chains.
Also Read: Exponent Energy unlocks a zero to 100 per cent 15-min rapid charge for electric vehicles
German electric car manufacturer e.GO leveraged technology suites like Windchill, Creo, ThingWorx, and Vuforia augmented reality suite and Microsoft Azure to create a digital thread spanning every part of their business, from engineering to manufacturing to the end-customer experience
Augmented Reality, the key to building an affordable electric car
Augmented reality is critical to building an affordable electric car and can be leveraged during assembly and quality testing using data stored on Azure. In the case of e.GO, the operator views an AR app powered by Vuforia Studio on a tablet.
The software recognises the precise automobile, and based on its configuration, the app pulls in criteria on how to do the quality check. The worker is directed to certain inspection spots and may use the app to get necessary configuration data and enter quality data back into the system.
Where AR especially comes useful is in the case of training new or geographically diversified staff, as AR’s built-in features lead the user through step-by-step instructions with important on-screen visuals.
Need of the hour: More emphasis on charging infrastructure
For the high adoption of electric vehicles, the charging infrastructure needs to be expanded. This is already taking place. In the recent past, EV charging stations have expanded by two-and-a-half times across nine megacities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. According to a power ministry statement, additional 678 public EV charging stations were installed in these nine cities between October 2021 and January 2022.
Car subscription, the highway to EV adoption
EV manufacturers should consider a subscription service to appeal to those who don’t want to outright purchase their own car but still need occasional access to one. With increasing awareness around the environment and climate change, it feels like a golden opportunity to get more people to drive EVs.
Also Read: How electric mobility startups are tackling climate change in Asia
Apparently, according to BCG, by 2030, car subscriptions may become a US$30 billion to US$40 billion market opportunity in Europe and the United States, accounting for 15 per cent of total new car sales. Subscriptions also make the entire car acquisition process ‘a modern digital experience — from shopping and comparison to transacting,’ according to the report from BCG. Subscriptions also make the entire car acquisition process “a modern digital experience — from shopping and comparison to transacting.”
The EV manufacturers should partner with mobility solution providers to conceptualise a subscription model and establish a digital channel for selling to end-users.
Optimising CAD software for a fluid design process
Electric vehicle manufacturers should use computer-aided design (CAD) for a fluid design process. This is where Creo software comes in. It’s a 3D CAD solution that assists in accelerating product innovation to build better products faster. It seamlessly takes you from the earliest phases of product design to manufacturing and beyond.
New technologies like generative design, augmented reality, real-time simulation, additive manufacturing and the IoT can be combined with powerful, proven functionality to reduce costs and improve product quality. This can ensure Industry 4.0 has product development taking place quickly, effectively and efficiently.
–
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic
Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page
Image credit: Canva Pro
The post 5 ways Indian EV makers can achieve world-class manufacturing efficiency appeared first on e27.