Advanced search

The target of this deliverable is to define the basic sizes (continuous and peak torque and power ratings, mass, expected available packaging envelopes) of the investigated components and systems for case studies. Furthermore, a set of integrated EM-TECH corner modules and on-board electric drive solutions for electric vehicles are defined to cover the widest possible range of vehicle segments. This deliverable also describes the associated machine control such as the cooling control and the inverter control for the new machines, and the vehicle controls to exploit the benefits to vehicle performance brought by the new machines, including the wheel slip control, the motor regenerative braking and braking blending, and the anti-jerk control.

This research article, published in the International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems, explores advanced methods for enhancing human-computer interaction in electric vehicles. It introduces improved speech recognition and visual imagery analysis techniques to optimize vehicle interior design, aiming to make in-vehicle interactions more intuitive and efficient.

This paper provides an extensive review on the latest works carried out to optimize the power flow in EV powertrains using multispeed discrete transmission, continuously variable transmission and multi-motor configurations. The relevant literatures were shortlisted using a keyword search related to EV powertrain in the ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. The review focused on the related literatures published from 2018 onwards. The publications were reviewed in terms of the methodologies applied to optimize the powertrain for efficiency and driving performance. Next, the significant findings from these literatures were discussed and compared. Finally, based on the review, several future key research areas in EV powertrain efficiency and performance are highlighted.

This paper presents an exhaustive review of diverse thermal management approaches at both the component and system levels, focusing on electric vehicle air conditioning systems, battery thermal management systems, and motor thermal management systems. In each subsystem, an advanced heat transfer process with phase change is recommended to dissipate the heat or directly cool the target. Moreover, the review suggested that a comprehensive integration of AC systems, battery thermal management systems, and motor thermal management systems is inevitable and is expected to maximize energy utilization efficiency.

Samsung's battery and renewable energy division plays a pivotal role in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Holding a 5% market share, the company exemplifies the convergence of the automotive and technology industries by supplying vehicle batteries alongside other electronic components. Its expertise lies in the production of lithium-ion batteries, celebrated for their exceptional energy density, performance, and reliability, making them a preferred choice for modern electric vehicles. Through continuous innovation, Samsung remains a key contributor to the advancement of sustainable transportation technologies.

This deliverable reports the selection of the optimum power devices for implementing the SCAPE high-voltage switching cells, after a literature review and commercial availability check. In addition to suitable electrical characteristics, the selection of candidates considered the suitability and availability of bare-die components for their subsequent chip embedding process. Two SiC MOSFET references have been selected and samples have been obtained for an initial test campaign (GeneSiC G4R12MT07. 750V – 12 mΩ and Wolfspeed CPM3-0650-0015A. 650V – 15 mΩ). For the development of the low-voltage switching cells of the auxiliary SCAPE converters, GaN HEMTs from EPC will be selected. The deliverable also includes a prospective and literature review about power device emerging technologies. 

The Horizon Europe HighScape project will explore the feasibility of a family of highly efficient power electronics (PE) components and systems for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), including integrated traction inverters, onboard chargers (OBCs), DC-DC converters, and electric drives for auxiliaries and chassis actuators. 

In the work leading to this deliverable, the HighScape component providers and developers, focusing on the adoption of Wide Bandgap (WBG) based PE devices, have been generating the detailed simulation models of the respective components and systems (i.e., traction motor and traction inverter, OBCs, DC-DC converters, drives for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and high voltage levelling suspension systems, and thermal systems for PE components/the whole vehicle), with a coverage of their parametrisation involving a wide range of BEV applications targeted in the project. The models enable model-based component and system design at the electrical, electronic, thermal and control levels. The components and systems models have been assembled into a vehicle simulation toolchain, for the rapid assessment of the implications of component design at the vehicle level, including considerations of thermal aspects. Due to the associated computational effort, the component models have been converted into surrogate models, such as Functional Mock-up Units (FMU) before their inclusion in the BEV simulation model. The definition, benefits and limitations of such surrogate models are discussed in the document. 

The Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy outlines the European Union's comprehensive strategy to transform its transport sector into a sustainable, smart, and resilient system. Recognising the critical role of mobility in economic and social life, the strategy aims to address the environmental and societal costs associated with transport, such as greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. By setting ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050, the EU seeks to significantly reduce emissions, enhance digitalisation, and ensure inclusive connectivity. This roadmap includes ten flagship areas with specific actions to modernise the transport sector, promote zero-emission vehicles, improve infrastructure, and foster innovation, all while ensuring that the transition is socially fair and just.

This deliverable provides updated specifications and requirements for the electrical, electronic, and thermal management subsystems of the RHODaS powertrain, building on those previously defined. It focuses on the design of a three-level, three-phase modular T-type converter based on SiC and GaN semiconductors, which must be compact to achieve the targeted gravimetric and volumetric power densities when mounted on top of the motor. The document details the converter’s dimensions, the integration of IMD components, and the semiconductor technologies under consideration.

Because commercially available GaN devices currently support only low voltages and currents, the deliverable proposes alternative strategies, such as using prototype GaN packs or parallelising multiple transistors, alongside a roadmap to address future design challenges. It also describes the supervision and monitoring strategies, including cloud-based functions, and defines the specifications for the thermal management system, with attention to environmental conditions and cooling requirements. The report concludes with a consolidated summary of the converter specifications, providing a reference for subsequent development and validation.

The European Green Deal, presented by the European Commission on December 11, 2019, outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform the European Union into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. This initiative aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, decouple economic growth from resource use, and protect the health and well-being of citizens. 

The Green Deal addresses urgent climate and environmental challenges, emphasising the need for a just and inclusive transition that involves all sectors of society. It also highlights the EU's role in leading global efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, leveraging its influence, expertise, and financial resources to mobilise international cooperation.