Volkswagen Group Technology has announced that it is developing a complete drive system for electric vehicles, producing batteries, electric motors, pulse inverters and thermal management systems.

Group Technology asserts that a complete drive for electric vehicles would offer 20% more efficiency, with further advantages by saving costs. Meanwhile Volkswagen has said that it will manufacture central components for electric vehicles itself, producing batteries, electric motors, pulse inverters and thermal management systems in-house.

Arguably the most important component of the complete drive system is the pulse inverter, described by Group Technology as the “brain of the electric drive train and is largely responsible for efficiency and performance.” The decision was made to redesign both the hardware and software of a standard pulse inverter, making the component “designed by Volkswagen.” The versatile pulse inverter has multiple applications for electric vehicles, with uses for entry-level engines or high-performance cars.

The technology development arm of Volkswagen has said it is working on new innovations for thermal management systems, predicting that individual modules and hose connections will be replaced with a thermal module which is more compact and integrated into the management system. This newly-developed module is claimed to be “significantly lighter, more robust and more efficient than current systems.”

“Our goal is to achieve technological leadership, also in electric mobility. That’s why here, too, we rely on our internal competencies and, after battery cells and electric motors, we are taking over the development of pulse inverters and thermal management systems,” said Thomas Schmall, member of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management with responsibility for Technology.

“In future, this will make the Volkswagen Group one of the only car manufacturers in the world that’s able to offer a holistically optimised complete system.”