The Volkswagen Group has announced a partnership with Google on quantum computing, in three development areas - including research on batteries.

The Google universal quantum computer is suitable for many experimental computing operations. Copyright: Google, Eric Lukero.

Volkswagen is the first in the automotive industry to utilize a quantum computer for complex computing tasks.

Three main topics were mentioned:

In the first project, the Volkswagen specialists are working on the further development of traffic optimization. They are building on the research project which they have already successfully completed and now want to consider additional variables in addition to reducing travelling times. These include urban traffic guidance systems, available electric charging stations or vacant parking spaces.

In a second project, the Volkswagen specialists aim to simulate and optimize the structure of high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and other materials. Volkswagen Group Research and Development experts expect this approach to provide new information for vehicle cons­truction and battery research.

A third project concerns the development of new machine learning processes. Machine learning is a key technology for the development of advanced AI systems, which are a prerequisite for autonomous driving.

"Simulation and optimization" of high-performance batteries for EVs is something that we normally would expect to see from battery startups, or battery manufacturers, so Volkswagen's interest in the area suggests it may have designs on attempting to develop its own type of proprietary battery cells.

"The Volkswagen Group is the first automotive company in the world to work intensively on quantum computing technology. In March 2017, Volkswagen announced its first successful research project completed on a quantum computer: a traffic flow optimization for 10.000 taxis in the Chinese capital Beijing. Volkswagen Group Information Technology & Services, Region Americas has been running an innovation team at its CODE office in San Francisco since 2013. The acronym CODE stands for Continuous Optimization and Digital Engineering. The team is made-up of Software Architects, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Researchers who work on a broad scale of tasks: from advanced Multi-Cloud computing automation, DevOps, Mobile Applications and Mobility Solutions to Data Science and Quantum Computing topics. As Volkswagen recognizes the importance of advanced technology and how it shapes modern society, the CODE team continues to push the threshold of what business may achieve through digital technology."

Martin Hofmann, Chief Information Officer of the Volkswagen Group, says:

“Quantum computing technology opens up new dimensions and represents the fast-track for future-oriented topics. We at Volkswagen want to be among the first to use quantum computing for corporate processes as soon as this technology is commercially available. Thanks to our cooperation with Google, we have taken a major step towards this goal.”

Hartmut Neven, Director of the Google Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, says: