Volkswagen Smashes Time Record At Nürburgring With ANSYS Simulation Solutions

Volkswagen Motorsport's ID.R race car, powered by ANSYS' simulation solutions, nailed down a place in racing history by shattering the lap time record for electric vehicles at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, according to ANSYS. Finishing in 6:05.336 minutes, Volkswagen driver Romain Dumas (F) pushed the ID.R's battery—supported by ANSYS simulations—to its limits on the German race track, showcasing its electrical efficiency.

Volkswagen Motorsports faced a challenging engineering test to beat the record, according to ANSYS. The Germany-based Nürburgring Nordschleife is regarded by the international racing community as a demanding racetrack. The course's tight corners and steep inclines require extreme acceleration and deceleration, causing thermal fluctuations that could have strained the ID.R's battery and created a temperature differential, potentially leading to shut down. Also challenging are the very long full-throttle passages, which place high demands on battery and temperature management.

To overcome these obstacles, Volkswagen Motorsports engineers leveraged ANSYS Fluids to evaluate different new cooling devices of the ID.R's battery that did not compromise the vehicle's aerodynamic design. Engineers also used ANSYS technology to create a digital twin that virtually replicated the car's performance on the track, proving that its battery could thrive on the challenging course and speed the ID.R over the finish line. With ANSYS simulation solutions, engineers eliminated the expensive and time-consuming trial-and-error testing process using a physical prototype.  

Designed by Volkswagen to compete in motorsport events, the ID.R's latest record follows its record-breaking run last year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where ANSYS simulation solutions helped it claim the title of fastest car to ever climb the mountain. 

“After claiming the Pikes Peak record, the ID.R has again showcased the power of e-mobility by beating the electric time record on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, providing the world a glimpse of the enormous potential that electric cars offer on ordinary roads in the future,” says Sven Smeets, director, Volkswagen Motorsport. “ANSYS simulations were instrumental for improving the temperature management of ID.R's battery, ensuring adequate heat removal and uniformity of temperature and without impacting the car's aerodynamic performance.”

“Volkswagen is a leading player in e-mobility and the ID.R has broken a new barrier for electric vehicles with its stellar success on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,” says Shane Emswiler, vice president and general manager, ANSYS. “Leveraging ANSYS simulations, Volkswagen Motorsports attained the perfect balance of controlling battery temperature while maximizing the aerodynamic performance of the ID.R within extremely challenging driving conditions.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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