Japanese firms Panasonic and AZAPA announced to co-develop simulation software that can optimize designing of electric vehicle (EV) powertrain system. This collaboration project has yield initial fruits, and in the future, this project would significantly shorten the development cycles of vehicles and EVs.

Panasonic pointed out, the industry has invest a lot of efforts and time in safe driving, internet-connecting vehicles, and performance improvement, in order to develop EV. Car makers use a "model-base" software to run simulations for EV's powertrain and modularized components. Using algorithm, the software can find the design that maximizes power of EV's powertrain. Via such simulation software, car makers can reduce time at system design & development stage.

Panasonic and AZAPA will co-develop a simulation software that can enhance autonomous driving system's safety, in-car entertainment (ICE), and other functions. Panasonic will consider plans of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), so as to raise competitiveness of Japanese auto industry.

Software like these will help Panasonic understand EV makers' requirement to components and performance in different regions, so that Panasonic can provide proper products, such as EV batteries.

Panasonic hopes that in the financial year of 2018, its auto sales will rise to 1.5 times of that in the 2015 financial year. The development of software is probable to facilitate Panasonic's long term business development of automotive and lithium batteries.

(Reported by Rhea Tsao, chief editor of EnergyTrend; translated by Janet Chen, a translator at TrendForce Corp.)