What is CEA - China Electrical Architecture - From Volkswagen and XPENG?
On the 17th of April 2024, XPENG Motors and Volkswagen Group jointly announced that they have signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on electronic and electrical architecture technology. This collaboration aims to develop the China Electrical Architecture (CEA), leveraging regional control and quasi-central computing, and integrate it into Volkswagen's CMP platform in China. A key feature of this architecture is its ability to reduce the number of controllers by 30%, thereby cutting costs. CEA is expected to be implemented in Volkswagen-branded electric vehicles produced in China starting from 2026. Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for China, said, "We aim to build a platform that meets the needs of the Chinese market." This article delves into the intricacies of CEA, exploring its zonal architecture, software systems, and the technical expectations of this promising initiative.
Volkswagen and XPENG
Volkswagen enters into agreement with XPENG for fast joint development of two smart e-cars.
image credit: volkswagen-group.com
What Are The Core Design Principles Behind CEA?
According to VW Group, CEA is designed around several core principles that differentiate it from traditional architectures:
Zonal Architecture:
The vehicle is divided into distinct zones, each managed by a local domain controller. This decentralization simplifies wiring and improves scalability.
High-Speed Communication:
Zones communicate with each other through high-speed Ethernet, ensuring rapid data transfer and seamless integration of functions.
Modular Design:
The architecture supports modularity, allowing for easy updates and integration of new features without extensive rewiring or redesign.
Enhanced Reliability:
By reducing the complexity of wiring and the number of connections, CEA improves the overall reliability of the vehicle's electrical system.
Figure 1: Thew New CEA Concept from VW and XPENG - source: VW Group
Zonal Architecture vs Traditional Vehicle Electrical Architectures
Traditional vehicle electrical architectures rely on a centralized network, where various control units (ECUs) are connected through a hierarchical bus system, often leading to complex wiring, increased weight, and higher costs. In contrast, VW and XPENG want to the CEA concept to adopt Zonal Architecture, which decentralizes the control units and groups them based on vehicle zones (front, rear, left, right). Each zone has its own domain controller that manages multiple functions and communicates with other zones via high-speed data links. We have covered different vehicle electrical architecture and Software Defined Vehicles SDV under this article.
The following is a comparison of the two systems in different aspects:
Figure 2: Zonal Architecture vs Traditional ECU Architecture
As can be concluded from the figure, Zonal Architecture offers various benefits:
Reduced Complexity:
Localizing the control within zones minimizes the need for extensive wiring harnesses. This reduces the complexity of the vehicle's electrical system.
Weight Reduction:
Less wiring means reduced vehicle weight, which is crucial for improving the efficiency and range of electric vehicles.
Enhanced Scalability:
Zonal architecture allows for easier scalability and integration of new features. Manufacturers can add or upgrade zones without overhauling the entire system.
Improved Reliability:
With fewer connections and simpler wiring, the system's overall reliability is enhanced, reducing the potential points of failure.
Software System in CEA
The China Electrical Architecture software system is designed to leverage the zonal approach, ensuring seamless operation and communication between different zones. The software stack is divided into several layers, each responsible for specific tasks and functionalities.
Figure 3: Simplified view of the Zonal Architecture concept behind CEA
Figure 3 tries to show a simplified concept behind the China Electrical Architecture (CEA) implementation of Zonal Architecture. This visualization highlights the relationships and communication paths between the centralized vehicle controller, Middleware Layer and zone controllers:
Centralized Vehicle Controller (Master Control Unit):
Acts as the master control unit for the entire vehicle and oversees high-level vehicle operations and manages communication between zone controllers.
Middleware Layer:
Functions include data aggregation, filtering, security, and communication management. It acts as an intermediary between the Centralized Vehicle Controller and Zone Controllers. The middleware layer serves as the communication backbone between the hardware and application layers. This layer ensures that data from various sensors and control units within each zone is collected, processed, and transmitted efficiently.
Zone Controller 1 (Front Zone):
Manages the electronic systems within the front zone of the vehicle and handles functions such as ADAS, front lighting, and front sensors. +application layer
Zone Controller 2 (Rear Zone):
Manages the electronic systems within the rear zone of the vehicle and handles functions such as rear climate control and rear sensors.
Local ECUs and Sensors:
Includes local ECUs and sensors for front and rear zone-specific operations.
Volkswagen's commitment to CEA is demonstrated through its strategic collaboration with XPENG and the planned rollout of CEA-equipped vehicles. In practical terms, the implementation of the China Electrical Architecture in vehicles translates to a more streamlined and efficient design. Each vehicle zone is equipped with a domain controller that integrates various control units and sensors, reducing the overall number of individual components and wiring connections.
How Does a CEA Enabled Vehicle Look Like?
Consider a CEA-enabled electric vehicle. The front zone controller might manage functions such as the headlamps, front sensors for ADAS, and the front air conditioning unit. The rear zone controller could handle the tail lights, rear sensors, and rear climate control. The left and right zone controllers would take care of side mirrors, door locks, and window controls.
Each of these zone controllers would be interconnected through high-speed Ethernet or automotive-specific communication protocols, allowing for rapid and reliable data exchange. This setup would not only enhance the vehicle's performance but also simplify diagnostics and maintenance, as issues can be localized to specific zones rather than tracing a complex network of wires. At the same time, the vehicle can send diagnostic data to service centers or the owner’s smartphone for proactive maintenance.
Will CEA-Enabled cars be fully voice-controlled? Probably! For instance, it may allow users to operate functions such as window adjustments and trunk opening and closing using voice commands. It is also expected that multiple cameras will provide a 360-degree field of view for detecting lanes, obstacles and traffic signals, and advanced AI software enabling autonomous driving functions, including lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and automatic parking.
Figure 4: Zonal Architecture VS Traditional Vehicle Electrical Architectures - Ccedit: Paul McLellan at cadence
Volkswagen's Strategic Plans for CEA Vehicles
Volkswagen's commitment to the China Electrical Architecture represents a significant step forward in its electrification and digitalization strategy. The collaboration with XPENG brings together German engineering prowess and Chinese innovation in electric vehicle technology.
Timeline for Launch:
Volkswagen has set an ambitious timeline for the rollout of CEA-enabled vehicles. The first models featuring the China Electrical Architecture are expected to be introduced in the Chinese market by 2025. This initial launch will focus on electric SUVs and sedans, which are highly popular in China. Following the success in China, Volkswagen plans to expand the availability of CEA vehicles to other markets, including Europe and North America, by 2027.
Market Positioning:
The CEA vehicles will be positioned as premium models within Volkswagen's lineup, offering advanced features and superior performance compared to traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles. By leveraging the benefits of zonal architecture and cutting-edge software systems, these vehicles aim to set new standards in terms of efficiency, safety, and user experience.
Volkswagen CFO Arno Antlitz discusses VW's $700 million investment in Chinese EV maker XPENG - Bloomberg Television YouTube
Conclusion
The introduction of the China Electrical Architecture (CEA) by Volkswagen Group and XPENG Motors will potentially mark as a pivotal moment, with the biggest European OEM in sales adapting to Chinese standards. Through adopting the zonal architecture concept, CEA simplifies vehicle wiring, reduces weight, and enhances scalability and reliability. According to VW Group sources, this new system not only cuts costs but also improves vehicle performance and ease of maintenance. With Volkswagen's ambitious rollout plan beginning in 2026, CEA-equipped vehicles are set to redefine standards for electric vehicles, particularly in the Chinese market, and later globally.
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