Tesla Model Y Teardown: Electric Powertrain Technology
Thermal management with Octovalve, battery, motor and inverter based on Munro teardown survey data
2021/06/01
- Summary
- Thermal management system
- Battery pack
- Motor
- Inverter
Summary
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| Tesla Model Y (Photo taken at the MarkLines Benchmarking Center) |
The Tesla Model Y was launched in 2020 as Tesla's first crossover SUV, and at present it is only available in all-wheel drive (AWD) grade. Munro & Associates, Inc. (Munro) conducted a teardown survey of the Tesla Model 3 in 2018 followed by a survey in 2020, and detailed information is available from MarkLines. This report introduces the electric powertrain technology of the Tesla Model Y as revealed in Munro's teardown analysis (Zone 4: Powertrain & Battery Pack).
The Tesla Model Y's electric powertrain shares many parts in common with the Model 3, especially with the "Performance" and "Long Range" grades of the AWD version. In this context, the evolution of the thermal management system has been remarkable.
The Model 3 also has a system that allows the battery to be heated by the exhaust heat from the electric powertrain, but the Model Y has introduced an LLC (long life coolant) compatible heat pump system and a set of valves called "Octovalve" that enable overall control of the heat flow including from the cabin HVAC and this system can be used to heat the battery by using the valves to control the flow path of the coolant.
The battery consists of 4,416 2170-type cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells arranged into four modules, making a 75 kWh battery pack.
As with the Model 3, it uses a synchronous motor for the rear wheels, which are the main drive wheels, and an induction motor for the front wheels, which are the secondary drive wheels, but the rotor conductors of the induction motor are made of cast aluminum, a first for Tesla.
The inverter also shares many parts with the Model 3; the power module is equipped with SiC MOSFETs for the rear-wheel drive and silicon IGBTs for the front-wheel drive.
Comparison of Tesla Model Y and Model 3 electric powertrain specifications
| Model Y | Model 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel | Rear-wheel | Front-wheel (only available in AWD grade) | Rear-wheel | |
| Motor type | Induction motor | IPMSM (interior permanent magnet synchronous motor) |
Induction motor | IPMSM (interior permanent magnet synchronous motor) |
| Maximum output | US: 69kW (Long Range AWD) 133kW (Performance AWD) China: 137kW (Long Range AWD) 137kW (Performance AWD) |
US: 201kW (Long Range AWD) 179kW (Performance AWD) China: 180kW (Long Range AWD) 202kW (Performance AWD) |
US: 98kW (Long Range AWD) 131kW (Performance AWD) China: 137kW (Performance AWD) |
US: 195kW (Long Range AWD) 190kW (Performance AWD) 198kW (Standard Range Plus RWD) China: 202kW (Performance AWD) 202kW (Standard Range Plus RWD) |
| Maximum torque | China: 219Nm (Long Range AWD) 219Nm (Performance AWD) |
China: 326Nm (Long Range AWD) 404Nm (Performance AWD) |
n.a. | China: n.a. (Performance AWD) 404Nm (Standard Range Plus RWD) |
| Battery | US: 82kWh (Long Range AWD) 82kWh (Performance AWD) China: 76.8kWh (Long Range AWD) 76.8kWh (Performance AWD) |
US: 82kWh (Long Range AWD) 82kWh (Performance AWD) 54kWh (Standard Range Plus RWD) China: 76.8kWh (Performance AWD) 55kWh (Standard Range Plus RWD) |
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(Source: Prepared by Marklines E-mobility / Autonomous Vehicles, Model Y and Model 3 data).
MarkLines works in cooperation with the Detroit-based vehicle benchmark engineering company Munro & Associates, Inc. (Munro). Munro conducts teardown surveys of various types of vehicles and conducts detailed specification and cost analysis of all the components, including weight and dimensions, and provides reports on the analysis results. For detailed information, please make an inquiry here.
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Tesla Model 3 teardown reports:
Tesla Model 3 Teardown: Chassis, and Body (May. 2019)
Tesla Model 3 Teardown: Interior, and HVAC system (Apr. 2019)
Tesla Model 3 Teardown: Motor, Inverter, and Battery (Mar. 2019)
Related reports:
Tesla: Aiming for annual production and sales of 1 million vehicles in 2022 (May 2021)
The Battery Show & EV Tech Digital Days 2020 (Dec. 2020)
Is Tesla an Auto Company or a Tech Company? (Nov. 2020)
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