PITTSBURGH, PA, Mar 20, 2025 – Ansys, in collaboration with Volvo Cars and NVIDIA, has introduced an advancement in aerodynamics simulations. 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 in the 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 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. By combining these technologies, Volvo Cars can perform several CFD simulations daily, testing various design options to improve optimization solutions.
“Using Ansys simulation has the potential to help our teams obtain favorable designs and carry out virtual testing in much less time than traditional approaches allow,” said Torbjörn Virdung, technical leader CFD, at Volvo Cars. “To make our products more efficient, we must first take stock of the tools and solutions we’re using to get there. In this case, the capability of Ansys Fluent can allow us not only to perform extremely high-fidelity analyses, but the added NVIDIA infrastructure supercharges the computation, so we can consider a greater number of design possibilities and reach an optimal car design faster.”
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.
“This breakthrough underscores how GPU-accelerated simulation can drive innovation and get products to market faster,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “The combination of high-fidelity modeling and extreme solver speed empowers customers to run more simulations and maximize the results to develop more performant products.”
“The efforts of Ansys and Volvo Cars showcase the exceptional performance and scalability of our latest Blackwell infrastructure offerings and its applicability to engineering simulation,” said Tim Costa, senior director of CAE, EDA and quantum at NVIDIA. “Together with software partners like Ansys, we are paving the way for the future of computer-aided engineering and scaling to unprecedented heights, empowering our customers to solve their most complex challenges.”
Source: Ansys
About Ansys
Ansys, founded in 1970, specializes in engineering simulation software. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for structural analysis, fluid dynamics, electromagnetic field simulation, and more, enabling industries to design and test products virtually. Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. Serving sectors such as aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, industrial equipment, materials and chemicals, consumer products, healthcare, and construction, Ansys supports innovation across diverse fields. As of 2023, the company reported annual revenues exceeding $2.3 billion and employed over 6,200 people worldwide. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Ansys continues to advance engineering simulation technologies, empowering organizations to enhance product development processes.
About Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars, founded in 1927, is a Swedish automaker known for its focus on safety and clean, Scandinavian design. The company is headquartered in Torslanda, Gothenburg, and offers SUVs, station wagons, and sedans. Over time, it has prioritized innovation and environmentally friendly practices. In 1999, Ford Motor Company acquired Volvo Cars, which was sold to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China in 2010. Operating on a global scale, Volvo has manufacturing plants in Sweden, Belgium, China, and the United States. In 2023, the company reported revenues of about 553 billion SEK and employs over 40,000 people worldwide. Volvo serves millions of customers globally with a growing focus on technology. Recent advancements include incorporating an Android-based infotainment system into its vehicles. This system provides features like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and access to the Google Play Store, improving convenience and usability for drivers.
About NVIDIA
NVIDIA Corp. is an American tech company headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. Renowned for designing and manufacturing graphics processing units (GPUs), NVIDIA’s innovations have significantly impacted various sectors. The company’s products and services cater to industries such as gaming, where its GPUs enhance visual experiences; artificial intelligence (AI), providing high-performance computing solutions; automotive, contributing to autonomous vehicle technologies; and robotics, offering advanced AI perception and simulation tools. Over its more than three decades in business, NVIDIA has experienced substantial growth. In the fiscal quarter ending January 2025, the company reported record revenue of $39.3 billion and a net income of $22.1 billion. NVIDIA’s headquarters, designed to facilitate a flat organizational structure, emphasizes information flow and harmony between leadership and employees.