ABB’s new E-mobility Innovation Lab in Delft strengthens regional potition as hotspot for future mobility

ABB has announced a new hub for electronic vehicle research in Delft, the Netherlands. The lab will house 120 specialists working on next-generation solutions. Designed to spur further innovations in e-mobility, the facility is based on the Delft University of Technology campus. The new lab will drive ABB’s future portfolio development, as well as R&D projects for EVs.

ABB’s E-mobility innovation Lab extends the already available facilities and infrastructure for research & development, testing and demonstration for future mobility technology in Delft, such as Research Lab Autonomous Driving and the Green village. Delft University was ranked among the top 15 engineering and technology universities in the world, which confirms that the location at the university campus is the very best for ABB’s lab to thrive and bring forth succesful mobility solutions.

Back to its Dutch roots

Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for E-mobility Infrastructure Solutions, comments:

“Innovation is in our blood – ABB has led the way in EV charging and is proud to have played a key role in driving adoption rates of electric vehicles across the world. That is why we are placing our E-mobility Innovation Lab in Delft, at the heart of the university campus, where we find complementary innovation facilities andare surrounded by the brightest tech talents and startups in the Netherlands.”

The facility marks the return of ABB’s EV charging business to the home of its conception. Indeed, the students who founded Epyon (start-up acquired by ABB in 2011), are TU Delft alumni.

Mekel Park Campus Delft University of Technology 01

Pushing the boundaries of e-mobility

“Within ABB Electrification, we invest approximately $400 million per annum into R&D to ensure we remain at the forefront of technological leadership and set the standard when it comes to sustainable mobility. As part of this investment, we are focused on pushing the boundaries of e-mobility, predominantly in the areas of charging, storage and digitalization. The new lab will allow us to strengthen our collaboration with EV manufacturers to drive further performance and progress across the sector,” Muehlon added.

Sustainability all the way

As part of ABB’s commitment to support a low-carbon society, it was vital to create a building that advances progress in sustainable mobility. Of equal importance is the environmental impact; ABB aims to create a facility that will minimize its environmental impact. This suits the deeply rooted sustainability values in the Dutch culture.

For heating and cooling, the ABB complex will be connected to the Delft University of Technology geothermal heating/cooling plant. The roof will house solar panels, with solar inverters to convert DC harvested from the sun into AC, which together with ABB’s advanced building management system for climate and light control and battery storage system, will allow testing energy to be fed back into the grid.

Radd Sustainable Energy

Future mobility in greater Rotterdam – The Hague

ABB’s R&D Center in Delft further strengthens the innovative future mobility ecosystem in our region. It complements the facilities, services and low-regulatory environment at Researchlab Autonomous Driving Delft and fieldlab the Green Village, creating a highly diverse environment for future mobility innovations. For example, read how automated charging company RocSys is commercializing its solutions at the Green Village, and how the infrastructure in Delft helps PowerParking integrate parked cars to the energy grid.

The Netherlands has been a leader in mobility innovation for several years now, ranking first in Roland Berger’s Automotive Disruption Radar and second in KPMG’s Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index. With the world’s highest density of charging stations for electric vehicles and second largest fleet of plug-in electric vehicles, it can rightfully be called a living lab for e-mobility.

This article originates from: investinholland.com