The company has invested £3.5 million in a research centre with the University of Nottingham and Newcastle University to develop new eDrive systems for future EV applications. Initial plans are to focus on improving GKN’s electric drive units (EDUs), GKN said.
The universities are part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which brings together academic, technological, and commercial expertise from across the UK to share best practice for the development of low emission propulsion technologies. The University of Nottingham is the APC’s focus for power electronics, while Newcastle University is the focus for electric motors.
“GKN Automotive is a pioneer of advanced eDrive development and this new research partnership will play a key role in strengthening the innovation of electrification technologies for future advanced propulsion systems,” said Gordon Day, MD, GKN Automotive.