Amid the rapid transformation of the automotive sector, the Centre of Excellence in Automotive Advanced Research (CAAR) is leading a new wave of innovation. From reimagining vehicle dynamics to cutting down battery testing time from six months towards few days, CAAR is setting bold benchmarks in efficiency and engineering. Its focus extends to developing lighter, high-torque motors that not only optimise energy consumption but also empower OEMs to introduce distinct features that redefine competitiveness. With these groundbreaking efforts, CAAR is redefining what’s possible in automotive technology, Thiru Srinivasan, CEO, CAAR told Mobility Outlook, during an interaction.
Srinivasan said the automotive sector is undergoing a radical transformation worldwide, driven by the need for advanced R&D. However, India currently contributes only about $3-4 billion of the $125 billion global R&D spend in the industry. And, most of this R&D investment flows through international collaborations, primarily with countries like the UK, US, Japan, and South Korea. Despite India's wealth of skilled resources and prestigious institutions, many of whom pursue technology jobs abroad, a significant portion of advanced R&D activities continues to take place overseas, he pointed out.
The R&D Ecosystem: Bridging the Gaps
According to him, India's R&D landscape can be broadly categorised into three segments. The first, concept-level research, thrives in academic institutions like IITs, where innovative concepts are explored and established but rarely developed further towards commercialisation. This work aligns with the initial Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), ranging from TRL-1 to TRL-3, which primarily involve publishing research papers that demonstrate potential breakthroughs, such as material substitutions or process improvements.
The second segment of the ecosystem, he said, encompasses the R&D centres of major automotive manufacturers like Mahindra, Tata Motors, TVS, Bosch, and others. These centres focus on taking proven concepts from pilot stages to market-ready products. This work often falls in the range from TRL-8 and beyond.
The real-world development of new technologies that is taken up the high TRL work at industry occurs overseas. Despite some Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) stepping up to deliver secondary-level engineering, most primary R&D activities remain concentrated in the headquarters of global OEMs.
“The missing link in India’s R&D spectrum is the crucial middle segment—translational research—which takes innovations from TRL-3 to TRL-8. While countries like Germany, Japan, and the UK have well-established centres for this type of research, India still needs to develop similar infrastructures,” he averred.
Creating CAAR
To address this gap, CAAR has been formed with an aim to support Indian OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers by advancing automotive innovations from “concept to near-market solutions.” In fact, it helps in translational research by bridging the gap between TRL-1 to TRL-4 work at the academic research labs and the Product R&D (TRL-8 to TRL-10) by the automotive industry.
The Genesis & Progress
Established in 2019, CAAR faced initial hurdles, including a lack of funding and the global disruption caused by COVID-19. Early on, it struggled with a perception problem—industries mistook it for an academic lab focused on TRL-1 to TRL-3 research. As a result, most engagements were small-scale projects rather than multi-crore investments in long-term technology development.
Recognising the need to reposition itself, CAAR shifted its focus to Indian OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, emphasising its role in driving translational research. Over the past year, it has made significant strides by collaborating with industry giants such as Mahindra, Tata Motors, TVS, Gabriel, Anand Group, and Sona Comstar, he said.
As Indian automotive companies increasingly aim for global expansion, they recognise the need to invest in local technology development, not just engineering. Its current projects reflect this shift, targeting areas like digitalisation, vehicle dynamics, battery characterisation, software-defined vehicles and advanced manufacturing and testing technologies.
Key Focus Areas For Translational Research
Vehicle Dynamics: According to Srinivasan, the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is reshaping vehicle architecture, from weight distribution to adaptive suspension systems. As born-electric vehicles become the norm, the chassis design changes dramatically, with batteries integrated into the centre of the vehicle. This alters the dynamics, lowering the centre of gravity but increasing weight.
CAAR is addressing these challenges by collaborating with industry experts and using extensive testing data from ARAI, iCAT, GARC, and other institutions to build reliable simulation models. This enables OEMs to optimise vehicle dynamics and reduce development cycles, potentially shortening design timelines from five years to as little as two.
Advanced Battery Characterisation: Battery efficiency is a critical determinant of EV performance. Traditionally, battery health is tested over several months by cycling through charge-discharge phases, making the process time-consuming. “CAAR is exploring novel technologies to reduce this testing time from six months to just a few days. By focusing on non-destructive evaluation and integrating sensor-based monitoring, it aims to accelerate the characterisation of battery performance. Collaborations with institutions like IIT Madras have brought experts in IoT, telecommunications, and sensing technologies into the fold, enabling a comprehensive approach to battery diagnostics,” he mentioned.
Motor Efficiency and Drive Cycle Optimisation: The energy conversion efficiency of motors in electric vehicles is a key area of focus. While peak motor efficiency can reach up to 90% at specific torque levels, the overall efficiency during a typical drive cycle is only about 60%. Further in-wheel motors simplify vehicle construction and space utilisation but add to unsprung mass (mass below suspension, directly interacting with the road), leading to poor ride quality.
CAAR aims to develop lighter, more efficient motors that can deliver higher torque at lower speeds, reducing overall energy consumption. By integrating thermal management, materials science, and electromagnetic analysis, it seeks to redefine motor design and significantly enhance EV performance.
Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs): As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, the ability to update software continuously without needing to change hardware becomes crucial. CAAR’s initiatives in this domain focus on IoT integration, in-vehicle communication, and cybersecurity, ensuring that SDVs can adapt to evolving demands. By creating a standardised platform for software updates, it aims to provide more value to the industry through rapid innovation cycles, he mentioned.
Driving India’s Technological Advancements For EVs
India’s transition from an assembler of imported kits to a global hub for automotive innovation hinges on the development of indigenous technologies. Initially, the Indian EV market was dominated by imported kits, but as competition intensified, the need for differentiated products grew. CAAR is enabling this shift by helping OEMs develop unique features that set them apart from competitors.
For instance, research work has led to introduction of real-world range indicators, demonstrating transparency and performance differentiation. As the industry matures, OEMs, regulators, and consumers are moving toward more meaningful innovations that reflect true value.
Accelerating India's R&D Capabilities
Srinivasan believes that India’s automotive R&D landscape is poised for a paradigm shift, with institutions like CAAR playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between concept and commercialisation.
By fostering deeper collaboration between academia, industry, and government, India can harness its vast talent pool and resources to become a global leader in automotive innovation. As the country moves beyond basic assembly to creating advanced, homegrown technologies, the automotive sector's future looks promising, with CAAR at the forefront of this transformation.
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