QARGOS Streamlines Development and Aims for Zero Physical Prototypes with MODSIM on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

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In 2016, electrical engineer Vijay K. Praveen and his India-based startup QARGOS® started a journey to develop eco-friendly two-wheel electric vehicles and e-bikes. The company’s comprehensive market analysis uncovered a significant gap in the logistics sector for transporting cargo between 20 and 120 kg (44 and 264 lbs) using two-wheel vehicles. This gap translated to a market opportunity exceeding US $5 billion that the company aimed to fill. Its first innovative electric cargo vehicle was tailored to enhance logistics in densely populated regions and advance the world’s transition to sustainable transportation solutions.

Backpacks and boxes pose health and safety concerns for drivers of two-wheel vehicles. The QARGOS F9 Cargo Scooter is designed to serve individuals carrying cargo in wearable backpacks or rear boxes on two-wheel motorbikes, mopeds, or bicycles. QARGOS began developing the F9 in earnest in 2018. The company participated in the SOLIDWORKS® for Startups Program and used SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD to create preliminary design concepts. After getting a demonstration of the unified modeling and simulation approach (MODSIM) made possible by 3DEXPERIENCE® Works, QARGOS took the next step by adding cloud-based solutions to its SOLIDWORKS installation in 2021.

Engineer a Pickup Truck Experience on Two Wheels

Maintaining the center of gravity presented a significant challenge in the QARGOS F9 design. Because the vehicle needs to remain dynamically stable when unloaded and loaded with up to 275 lbs, the design required a comprehensive development approach involving multiple iterations. As Co-founder Alok Das points out, this process was underpinned by extensive simulation, thorough testing, and continuous engagement with potential customers.

“The addition of the 3DEXPERIENCE Works solutions—particularly the MODSIM workflows—magnified our capabilities and elevated our development efforts,” Das stresses. “Because 3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation solutions are fully integrated with SOLIDWORKS, the transition between design and simulation is seamless, supporting the simulation-driven approach that helped us improve the design with every iteration.”

The company’s plan to develop the vehicle with zero prototyping required QARGOS engineers to explore hundreds of design alternatives in the early development stage. The unified approach with SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE Works enabled development to progress more quickly. Easy access to all the product development tools and leveraging high-performance computing on the cloud for complex simulations made it simple for critical stakeholders at QARGOS to access and share data from any location.

Faster Time to Market with a Lighter Product

QARGOS solved complex engineering problems without expensive and tedious physical prototype testing using 3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation to predict how products perform in real-world scenarios. “We’ve done many different types of simulations, which have led to dramatic performance-enhancing improvements in several areas,” Das notes. Simulating aerodynamics, battery thermal management, and the chassis strength and [structural] integrity enabled QARGOS to bring the F9 to market more quickly.

The company also decided to validate the design using a material different from what a supplier recommended for the vehicle chassis, which resulted in a 30 percent reduction in weight. “We optimized the airflow around the vehicle and the drag forces on the rider, and we optimized the battery temperature using simulation to verify that a fluid cooling system was more effective than air cooling,” explains Das. “We also maximized the cargo compartment size, which is almost large enough for a person to sit in.” With simulation best practices and integrated workflows, Das and his engineering teams have increased the predictability of product performance while saving money and time by reducing physical prototyping and testing.

Superior and More Secure Data Management

In addition to benefiting from 3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation, QARGOS tapped the portfolio’s data management capabilities to tighten revision controls during development. The company also used design visuals from the SOLIDWORKS model to initiate customer engagement and testing. “We’ve shared a model of our storage compartment with potential customers. That set the stage for more than 500 product demonstrations and more than 30,000 miles of road testing,” Das explains.

“3DEXPERIENCE Works data management capabilities ensure that our data is clean and secure and that feedback from customers isn’t lost and makes its way into our design iterations,” Das says. “With SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE Works solutions, we’ve not just developed an innovative product but have launched a revolution in the logistics operations that will fuel a sustainable business for years to come.”

To read the full case study, click here. Contact your local reseller if you’d like to learn more about how the SOLIDWORKS for Startups Program can help your company from inception to commercialization.

The SOLIDWORKS for Startups program offers free SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, simulation, data management and other product development software that scales with your startup needs. The program participants also benefit from free training, co-marketing resources and networking opportunities. Apply now and see if your startups qualifies.

Explore the list of free resources handpicked for you by the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program staff members that will help your startup journey:

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