Volkswagen presents Electric Supercar made with ANSYS technology

It was born as a project aimed at facing the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, made in collaboration with ANSYS, is Volkswagen’s first fully electric racing car. For this project, the German group used the ANSYS solutions of Pervasive Engineering Simulation to create a digital prototype of the battery system and optimize the car’s electric propulsion system.

Behind the prototype of a 680 horsepower sports car, the Volkswagen pilot Romain Dumas will attempt to set a new record for electric cars during the 96th edition of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race.

The aerodynamics of the I.D. Pi Pikes Peak has been specially developed to address the extreme conditions and specific challenges of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The track, unique in its kind, is 19.99 kilometers long and has 156 rising curves, going from 2,862 meters above sea level of the starting lineup to the 4,302 meters of altitude.

The high-altitude results in a reduction in the air density of about 35%, which creates different aerodynamic conditions compared to those of a track that runs on flat ground. In addition to real-time data and instantaneous results, ANSYS solutions have been used to simulate driving conditions that cannot be reproduced in a traditional wind tunnel.

Thanks to ANSYS, the engineers at Volkswagen were able to calculate the ideal balance between cooling airflow and aerodynamic loss and define an optimal battery cooling system to ensure the best possible vehicle performance.

Through its strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, ANSYS, a company founded in 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, supports companies in engineering simulation.