Volvo uses Ansys, NVIDIA GPUs to boost EX90 CFD simulations 2.5x

Ansys has announced a significant breakthrough in aerodynamics simulations in collaboration with Volvo Cars and NVIDIA. Using the combination of eight NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs for the solver and CPU cores for meshing, the companies reduced total simulation run time from 24 hours to 6.5 — enabling multiple design iterations per day, facilitating more optimization studies for BEVs, and accelerating time-to-market. This collaboration sets a benchmark for the automotive industry and those beyond that require precise fluid flow simulation, including aerospace, motorsports, and consumer electronics.

Volvo Cars relies on advanced computing and CFD to drive innovation and improve electric battery performance. Robust simulations are critical for reducing aerodynamic drag — a significant factor on EV range. However, high-fidelity CFD simulations can be time consuming, compute-intensive, costly, and allow little opportunity for optimization.

To improve the energy efficiency and drive range of the fully electric EX90, Volvo Cars and Ansys scaled Fluent to eight NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, enabling an optimized end-to-end workflow wherein meshing only took one hour and the solver took 5.5 hours. Compared to solving the same simulation on cost-equivalent hardware using 2,016 CPU cores, this equates to a 2.5X speed increase in solve time. The technology combination can allow Volvo Cars to run multiple CFD simulations per day, evaluating a range of design variants to quickly enable a step change in design optimization.

This accelerated process has the potential to further help Volvo Cars meet critical emissions, range, and efficiency standards, such as Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) requirements.

www.ansys.com