Volke Entwicklungsring SE

Powertrain/Chassis Overview

Powerful yet economical?
Environmentally friendly yet economical?

At first glance, contradictions and challenges appear to be the ones we at Volke combine in the area of drive and chassis, from concept to detailed design.

Our core competencies

We optimize:

Drive systems
Chassis systems
Gas storage systems
Battery systems

Our services

Development and testing of drive components for motor vehicles
Build-up and conversion of test vehicles for testing purposes
Support of pre-development with the production of individual parts up to small series parts

Powertrain/Chassis Development

Powertrain development

Through cost-optimized and efficient processes, basic engines, peripherals and exhaust gas aftertreatment are designed and developed on a turnkey basis to optimize consumption and emissions.

Intake and charge air line
Aggregate bearing
Arrangement of the auxiliary units
Exhaust aftertreatment
Functional components
Camshaft and crankshaft
Thermal management
Cylinder head and cylinder crankcase

Chassis development

For optimal driving comfort, we develop innovative chassis systems in a weight-reduced hybrid design.

Concept development of front and rear axle supports (subframes)
Load-bearing and production-oriented design
FEM structural analysis of the axle supports as tube, sheet metal or cast construction

High-voltage battery development

Pre-development of battery concepts
Mechanical development battery
Battery stack development

Powertrain/Chassis VR - Inspection

VR-Inspection

We developed a VR program that enabled the inspection of gas-powered vehicles. The following tools, which are used to test and evaluate gas systems, were integrated into the program.

Telescopic mirror to illustrate inaccessible sections
LED hand lamp (VAS 6901 or comparable) for illuminating the surroundings
Endoscope (VAS 6748 B – Ø 5 mm) for inspection of hard-to-reach areas

Powertrain/Chassis Gas storage systems

Development of gas storage systems

Compressed gas cylinders (Type 1 and Type 4)
Mountings for compressed gas containers
Tensioning systems with supports
Cable and connection technology
Cylinder valves with attachments
Filler neck with holder

Powertrain/Chassis Development workshops

Development workshops

We ensure that our drive systems and vehicles are safe for development and testing. We operate a wide range of workshops and test benches. We carry out vehicle modifications and conversions in our own development workshops.

Project management and planning

Market entry intervals are becoming shorter, and requirements are becoming more complex. This requires clearly defined project planning. The design, consolidation, and monitoring of holistic development projects therefore form the cornerstone of our projects.

Support in simultaneous engineering
Application of agile development methods
Cross-departmental project planning

Powertrain/Chassis Components mixture formation

Development of components of mixture formation

Development

HD fuel rail and HD fuel line (HD -> high pressure)
AKF and LP fuel systems (AKF -> activated carbon filter in the fuel area; LP -> low pressure)
Exhaust gas recirculation systems (EGR)
Differential pressure systems (DDS)
Secondary air systems (SLP)
Vacuum lines (UDL for supplying brake booster)
Type approval drawings

Project management and planning

Series development
Creation/moderation of design, process and system FMEA (FMEA -> Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)

HD fuel rail including line

AKF and LP fuel system

EGR systems

Differential pressure systems

Secondary air systems

Vacuum lines

Powertrain/Chassis Type testing

Type testing of vehicles

We support you with comprehensive testing of your car, commercial vehicle, or trailer for your vehicle registration.
During homologation, we ensure that the systems and components comply with the regulations for issuing type approval.

Our services

Coordination and control
Preparation process including all modifications
Hardware and software updates
Accompaniment and support of type tests at home and abroad

Powertrain/Chassis Fuel cell

Fuel cell for commercial vehicles

Fuel cells in vehicles offer a number of advantages—both ecological and practical. Here are the most important:

Zero emissions in operation
The only direct emission is water vapor – no pollutants such as CO₂, nitrogen oxides or particulate matter are produced when driving.
Fast refueling
Refueling only takes about 3-5 minutes, similar to a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle – an advantage over battery-powered electric cars, which often require a long charging time.
Long range
Vehicles with fuel cells can reach 500–700 km or more, comparable to conventional combustion engines.
High efficiency (under certain conditions)

Less impact of cold temperatures
Fuel cells lose less efficiency in winter than batteries – an advantage for operation in cold regions.
The conversion of hydrogen into electricity is more efficient than with combustion engines, especially in partial load operation (e.g. urban traffic).
Quiet and low vibration
As with battery-electric cars, the drive is almost silent, which increases driving comfort.
Less dependence on rare raw materials
Although the fuel cell also requires certain materials (e.g. platinum), the lithium requirement is lower than in electric cars with large batteries.
Good for heavy vehicles
This is particularly advantageous for trucks, buses, trains or ships, as batteries would often be too heavy and space-consuming.