Williams Advanced Engineering Showcases Portfolio of Cutting-Edge Off-Highway Electrification Solutions

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), now wholly owned by Fortescue Metals Group, is attending Bauma 2022, showcasing a wide range of cutting-edge electrification solutions, all of which will support the acceleration of the off-highway sector in its journey to decarbonization.

Held in Munich from 24-30 October, Bauma is the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles, and construction equipment. WAE will be using the event to show its leading advanced battery and energy storage technology, which has been specifically developed for the rugged use cases of mining and other off-highway applications.

Following its acquisition by Fortescue at the start of this year, WAE – a leader in high-performance battery technology developed originally for global motorsport and road car programs – is becoming a leading supplier to the off-highway sector, using its expertise to support Fortescue in its transition to a global green renewables and resources company through the decarbonization of its worldwide vehicle fleet.

Additionally, WAE is working on a world-first, zero emission ‘Infinity Train’; a regenerating battery electric iron ore train project which will use gravitational energy to recharge its battery electric systems without any additional charging requirements for the return trip to reload.

In June 2022, Fortescue announced a partnership with Liebherr, who will be developing and supplying green mining haul trucks (using the T264) in which zero emission power system technologies – developed by Williams Advanced Engineering – will be integrated. WAE’s technology line-up at Bauma 2022 will include the following off-highway specific innovations:

Off-Highway Battery Module

Featuring a scalable, modular design delivering sub-30min pack charge times for maximum performance, WAE’s Off-Highway Battery Module boasts laser-welded cell-to-busbar technology for in-service reliability. It also has a robust alloy frame, which improves durability and extends life in service, as well as optimized cell packaging for maximum energy density.

Battery Management Unit

Unlocking battery performance through best-in-class software architecture, WAE’s Battery Management Unit is designed for pack architectures of less than 800V. Its advanced state detection algorithms allow for more efficient energy usage, while the unit also reduces equipment downtime by enabling maximized fast charge rates.

Cell Management Unit

Enabling real-time telematics to maximize cell performance, WAE’s Cell Management Unit allows high-precision cell voltage and temperature monitoring. Its innovative flexi interconnects enables enhanced durability, while the system’s design also allows manufacturing complexity to be reduced for high-volume applications.

DC-DC Converter

With a ruggedized design developed for deployment in off-highway vehicle applications, WAE’s DC-DC Converter is a 600kW 1.5kV – 1kV step-down converter for high power loads. Its Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology delivers exceptional efficiency of 98.5%, while full power operation takes place at an ambient temperature of 50^oC.

Vehicle Control Module

This powerful processing platform unlocks vehicle performance advantages, featuring a versatile vehicle system controller. Specifically designed for decarbonized powertrains it has a flexible heterogenous MPSoC processor.

Graham Belgum, General Manager for Green Fleet, WAE said: “High-performance battery and electrification systems are at the core of what we do. Over the last two decades, WAE has garnered unparalleled experience in the development of cutting-edge technology, which increasingly is being applied to the off-highway sector. Now that we are part of the Fortescue family, WAE is central to battery power systems and product capability, supporting the business as it transitions to a clean, green fleet. Our technology has the potential to accelerate the decarbonization of any off-highway vehicle – and we are delighted to be debuting these at Bauma 2022.”

About Williams Advanced Engineering (“WAE”)

Williams Advanced Engineering is a world-leading technology and engineering services business delivering pioneering innovation to improve performance, efficiency, and sustainability to a global customer base.

Combining cutting-edge technological advances and the industry’s best engineers with precision and speed to market derived from the ultra-competitive environment of motorsport, WAE’s capabilities cover a wide range of disciplines.

The company provides ground-breaking innovation covering advanced battery and electrification technologies and product development; aided by advanced simulation, testing, rapid prototyping, and volume manufacturing. Working in close collaboration with our customers, WAE remains committed to meeting the continued sustainability challenges of the 21st Century.

The company can trace its foundations back to 2010 when Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited began diversifying its operations; a division that later became Williams Advanced Engineering. 

WAE has grown from an embryonic business in 2010 to a company that employs approximately 750 people engaged in leading-edge and transformative technologies for a growing list of Tier 1 clients.

Following the acquisition by Fortescue Metals Group, which was completed in March 2022, WAE will continue to service its existing customers and commercialize new technology opportunities, in addition to playing a key role in supporting Fortescue’s decarbonization strategy. 

The Company was honored with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2018.

For more information see www.wae.com, and follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.