Bombardier announces rail and e-mobility Innovation Centre in Sweden

Bombardier is adding a state-of-the-art e-mobility test and technology centre to its current site in Västerås, Sweden.

With growing global market interest in e-mobility solutions and increasing interconnected development in the mobility sector, the innovation centre will revolve around electric propulsion systems. This key enabling technology will help to increase energy efficiency and offer cost-efficient modular systems for a low carbon rail and automotive industry. The centre will:

• Enable cross-industry fertilisation between different sectors, including academia and start-ups, and allow for joint research and development projects with construction machines, trucks and rail
• Be open to facilitate testing of industry partner products and systems, bringing Bombardier’s expertise in electrical-propulsion systems to new applications for e-mobility
• Develop next generation intelligent energy-efficient propulsion systems together with external partners.

To accelerate the centre’s launch, Bombardier’s propulsion development and validation testing expertise will be concentrated under one roof by merging engineering offices with its manufacturing site in Finnslätten, an industrial zone in Västerås.

The ground-breaking for the new buildings should take place in spring 2021, and the new technology centre inauguration is planned for 2023.

“Sweden is the ideal location to develop next generation energy-efficient electric propulsion systems to enable clean transportation in the rail and automotive sectors,” said Danny Di Perna, President of Bombardier Transportation.

“We are proud to build on our extensive e-mobility expertise to provide the Swedish industrial ecosystem with a leading, fast-paced innovation environment that is unique. This investment will contribute to the further revitalisation of the Nordic rail industry, bringing innovative new technologies and business opportunities, and reaffirming Bombardier’s leadership position in this market as well as its commitment to low carbon and sustainable transportation,” he added.

Ibrahim Baylan, Sweden’s Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, expressed his delight at Bombardier’s choice of Västerås for its innovation centre, commenting: “This will further strengthen Sweden as one of the most innovative countries in the world, with a tradition of collaboration between business, academia and the public sector.”