Importance of Noise Reduction in EVs
Electric vehicles (EVs) promise a quieter and more sustainable driving experience compared to traditional combustion engines. However, residual noises from electric motors and gearboxes, often high-pitched and unpleasant, remain a challenge. Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) significantly impact passenger comfort and vehicle acceptance in the fast-growing EV market. Addressing these challenges is crucial to fulfilling customer expectations and reinforcing the silent promise of electric mobility. This is a factor now recognized as critical for market success and consumer satisfaction.
Extended Strategic Partnership
Valeo, a leading automotive components manufacturer, and the French engineering school Arts et Métiers have announced an extension and expansion of their seven-year collaboration through a new research chair dedicated to the vibro-acoustics of electric powertrains. This partnership aims to innovate and apply advanced solutions to reduce the residual noise associated with electric motors and gearboxes in EVs. The goal is to support the ongoing transition to automotive electrification with a focus on noise elimination to improve passenger comfort and electric vehicle performance.
Research Focus and Technological Innovations
The extended partnership, continuing until 2032, brings together experts from Arts et Métiers’ Laboratory of Engineering of Physical and Numerical Systems (LISPEN) and Laboratory of Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics of Lille (L2EP) with Valeo’s market insights and industrial capabilities. Research efforts focus on two main areas:
Prediction: Developing electro-magneto-mechanical simulation tools to anticipate vibrations and noise starting at the motor design and control strategy phases.
Action: Innovating active and passive noise and vibration reduction techniques applying electrical control solutions, piezoelectric absorbers, viscoelastic materials, and meta-materials.
This dual approach combines mechanical and electrical expertise to design quieter and more refined electric powertrains, ensuring enhanced NVH performance.
Impact on EV Market and Acoustic Comfort
Acoustic comfort is highlighted by the partnership leaders as a key factor in the success and acceptance of electric vehicles. High NVH levels risk defeating one of the primary competitive advantages of EVs—their silence. By reducing noise from electric drivetrains, Valeo and Arts et Métiers seek to enhance customer experience and trust in electric mobility. This collaboration strengthens Valeo’s positioning as a technology leader in the EV sector, emphasizing innovation that meets customer expectations for quieter rides.
Education, Research Development, and Future Perspectives
Beyond innovations, the partnership involves educational and scientific outreach. It supports at least six PhD theses, a post-doctoral project, and the recruitment of additional research staff. These activities aim to cultivate expertise in vibro-acoustics and electric mobility. At the same time contributing to the broader automotive industry’s shift towards sustainable electric transportation. As EV adoption accelerates globally, such research initiatives are vital for overcoming challenges in powertrain noise and driving the next generation of electric vehicle technologies.
The Valeo and Arts et Métiers collaboration exemplifies how academic research combined with industry expertise can produce impactful solutions for electric vehicle technology advancements, ensuring quieter, more comfortable, and widely accepted electric mobility experiences.
