“In five years, Sk?vde will be a leading competence centre for battery development”
Over the past five years, the University of Sk?vde and Volvo Group have laid the foundation to make Skaraborg a nationally leading competence centre in battery development. The region is now facing the next major step – large-scale, sustainable, and fossil-free production of battery cells in Mariestad. The collaboration between academia and industry is an important factor in the decision regarding the location.
When Volvo Group approached the University of Sk?vde, the goal was clear: to develop expertise in hairpins and laser welding — two key areas for electric drivetrains. The University responded honestly that it had no prior knowledge in these areas, and Volvo replied with equal candour: “Neither do we, but we want to do this together with you.” This marked the beginning of a collaboration that would lay the foundation for a new era of battery development in Skaraborg.
Nationally leading competence centre for battery development
“We are very pleased with the opportunity to develop this research and education area together with Volvo Group. And there is no doubt that in five years, we will have a nationally leading competence centre for battery development here in Sk?vde. The collaboration with Volvo has worked incredibly well. Volvo’s team is committed, and we have been able to build mutual trust that has benefited research, production, and quality—creating a fantastic win-win situation,” says Kent Salomonsson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sk?vde.
Following the research in laser welding, the University gained increased trust from Volvo. Together, they have advanced to research areas including CT scanning (a non-destructive advanced X-ray technique), electrical conductivity in hairpins, and stator optimisation. In the lab at ASSAR, hundreds of prototype motors have been welded.
At ASSAR, academia and industry are shaping the future together
A significant part of the collaboration between the University of Sk?vde and Volvo Group takes place within the framework of the ASSAR Industrial Innovation Arena, a collaboration platform focused on the industry of the future. By leading ASSAR’s research agenda, the University, together with its partners, has established a dynamic platform for experimenting, educating, and validating new technology that is now being used to build the battery production of the future in Skaraborg.
“At ASSAR, Volvo’s research needs meet the University’s academic expertise. The University is primarily responsible for ASSAR’s research agenda and has played an active role in managing the arena since its inception. Being able to work together with ASSAR as a shared platform has been invaluable. Here, we have jointly tested and developed technology that has paved the way for the establishment we are now making in Mariestad, as well as the transition in Sk?vde,” says Johan Ottosson, Director of Technology Strategy and Partner at Volvo Group.
In addition to the research carried out at ASSAR, education has been an important part of the partners’ collaboration. Volvo Group’s personnel have been trained and educated in laser technology by the University’s staff.
“ASSAR now has a lab where, together with Volvo and IDC West Sweden, we have researched how to, among other things, minimise pores during laser welding. We have refined our validation methods and compared the results with automotive industry quality standards. Our welding methods provide significantly better quality than what the automotive industry requires,” says Kent Salomonsson.
Agreement secures Skaraborg’s position as a leader in battery technology
The collaboration between the University of Sk?vde and Volvo Group has laid a solid foundation for a new area of expertise in battery development. Through joint investments in research, education, and technology, future battery solutions are now being developed with a focus on sustainability and innovation. The parties have strengthened their collaboration through a new agreement (Volvo Academic Partner Program) and continue to develop technology that secures Skaraborg’s role as a leading player in battery development and sustainable production.
Hairpins provide a more efficient and lighter electric motor
In an electric motor, electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy through a rotating magnetised field interacting with a magnetic field that generates torque. The motor consists of a moving part, the rotor, and a stationary part, the stator, both of which have iron cores. In the electric motors being prototype-built at ASSAR, the stator is constructed using, among other components, copper hairpins. This results in an electric motor that is lighter, withstands greater thermal stress, exhibits improved torque, has higher power density, and produces less heat.