Software simulates drive behaviour accurately, cutting time and costs
25 November 2025 
At the SPS automation show in Germany, ABB has unveiled a simulation package that allows drives users to test and simulate how a drive will behave without needing the physical hardware. The ABB ACS880 Virtual DrivePlus is a digital version of an ACS88 industrial drive that can be used to design, configure, and validate systems virtually, reducing risks and avoiding delays caused by waiting for physical equipment.
By enabling accurate, hardware-free testing early in the project, the package speeds up development, and cuts commissioning times and costs, helping users to bring products to the market faster and more reliably, says ABB.
The ACS880 Virtual DrivePlus can operate as an inverter, active rectifier, or DC/DC chopper in a virtual environment. Its simulation features allow easy expansion and customisation, allowing customers to use a virtual drive on a PC to model their own systems and create simulations that replicate real-world applications.
The Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) package runs a low-voltage drive’s control firmware to ensure accurate simulation of its behaviour. It is said to deliver microsecond-accurate electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulations, providing virtual drive blocks for users to develop and test applications – configuring grids, loads, processes and system-level controls – just as they would with physical drives.
Final-stage hardware-based validation and real-time integration can be completed using ABB’s ACS880 DriveLab package.
“We are providing our customers with more than just a model; we are providing the authentic core of ABB drive technology,” explains Xinhua Ke, product manager in Motion High Power at ABB. “With a verified foundation, universal integration, and baseline models for fast start, ACS880 Virtual DrivePlus is the ideal choice for customers aiming to innovate, accelerate development, and reduce risk.”
Through its IP-secure technology, the simulation package also enables OEMs to expand their service offerings. Using the digital models that replicate the behaviour of physical drives, they can bundle the virtual drives with their own service and support, and resell licensed application solutions to their end-customers.
“The simulation solutions portfolio represents our vision for model-based engineering, where simulation and real-world performance are connected,” says Adrian Daeppen, global offering portfolio manager of Motion High Power at ABB. “Our customers can build their own innovative businesses on top of our trusted technology. It connects digital engineering directly to commercial growth, helping our customers outrun their competition.”
