US-made Bosch EV motors are going into Rivian vehicles

Bosch on Tuesday introduced the beginning of EV motor manufacturing at its Charleston, South Carolina, facility, with enlargement plans already on deck for 2023.

Manufacturing started earlier this month in a 200,000-square-foot part of an present constructing on the Charleston website, Bosch stated in a press launch. The meeting space consists of manufacturing of motor rotors and stators—the primary elements—in addition to ultimate meeting of the motors, in accordance with the corporate.

Bosch plans so as to add 75,000 sq. toes to this constructing in response to an uptick in enterprise, and is spending $260 million on that addition, which is scheduled to be operational by the top of 2023.

A spokesperson confirmed to Inexperienced Automotive Experiences that preliminary manufacturing goes to Rivian, whereas the enlargement will serve further clients the corporate doesn’t wish to title but. Rivian stands out amongst EV-only automakers as one of many few outsourcing electrical motors. The corporate views this as a cost-saving measure, though it’s shifting to in-house motor tech.

Bosch stated motors assembled in Charleston can vary in energy from 50 kw to 500 kw (67 hp to 670 hp) and from 110 lb-ft of torque to 737 lb-ft. Additionally they function a voltage vary of as much as 850 volts, with a claimed 98% effectivity.

Opened in 1974, the power is a key a part of Bosch’s pivot away from internal-combustion tech. The corporate famous that the constructing now used for electrical motor manufacturing was beforehand used to make diesel-engine elements.

Bosch facility in Anderson, South Carolina

Bosch introduced this pivot in 2019 after getting caught up within the Volkswagen diesel scandal. It introduced in January 2020 that manufacturing of diesel-engine elements would slowly ramp down,  however subsequently clarified that it’ll proceed to put money into internal-combustion engine tech for a very long time.

Native hydrogen fuel-cell manufacturing can be on the best way— for Nikola, amongst others doubtlessly. Bosch in August introduced plans to make gasoline cells in Anderson, South Carolina, starting in 2026. The corporate is an investor in Nikola, which beforehand mentioned plans to make use of Bosch tech in its fuel-cell semi vehicles.