Automotive World 2019: Innovations in xEV drive systems

Evolution of components for the proliferation of electric vehicles

2019/02/26

Summary
Current Status of Nissan e-POWER and Further Improvements in the Future (Nissan）
Technology Innovation of the new i-MMD Plug-in for the Clarity PHEV (Honda）
Technical Trends for Electrification of Powertrains & Control Systems (Hitachi)

Summary

This paper introduces the topics presented at the AUTO-4 technical session entitled "Technological Innovations of Drive Systems for xEVs" on January 17th at the Automotive World Conference 2019. This session consisted of lectures by two automakers and one electronics supplier on the features and component technologies of electric vehicles.

The lectures by both automakers focused on the series hybrid type of electrified vehicles, which have different characteristics from that of pure electric vehicles such as large and small battery capacities, the presence or absence of a direct drive mechanism connecting the engine, and the system’s configuration elements. The concepts and advantages of series hybrids are also different from that of EVs.

Nissan's e-POWER shares components common with EVs, with the 100% pure electric motor drives of EVs demonstrating improved driving performance and excellent fuel economy with the characteristics of responsiveness and features such as single pedal operation. In contrast, the Honda Clarity PHEV has a relatively large 17 kWh battery (with a range of 114 km in pure EV mode) and a direct drive mechanism connecting the engine which were adopted to alleviate driver concerns regarding highway driving and range anxiety.

The lecture of Hitachi explained its efforts to solve the issues associated with the miniaturization of inverters (cooling, low loss, high reliability) that is indispensable for the proliferation of electric vehicles and its efforts to develop quiet motors.