Next Generation Inverter Technology for Electric Mobility

Authors

A. Mayer, M. S. Cohen, BorgWarner Inc., Auburn Hills / Kokomo:

Year

2023

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

Due to the significant advancements in battery technology as well as scale in manufacturing, highly efficient and cost balanced electric propulsion systems are being deployed in vehicles that can now penetrate high volume market usually dominated by internal combustion engines. The main components in electric propulsion systems are batteries, inverter and electric motors, and BorgWarner is working on the development of advanced technologies intended to make these components even smaller, more efficient, and safer than before. Traction inverters are a critical component in electric vehicles, not only for functionality but also for system safety. The lecture will touch upon the core traction inverter building blocks such as a cost balanced silicon carbide (SiC) power module, advanced thermal solutions, as well as a disruptive capacitor technology that enable higher power density and efficiency requirements for future e-Mobility applications. Safety is one of the primary concerns when designing traction inverters because of the dynamics of the of machine able to impart high levels of positive and negative acceleration as well as the required system’s high voltages and currents. Therefore, the automotive sector established safety risk classification by automotive safety integrity level (ASIL) in accordance with ISO26262 electrical and/or electronic (E/E) system within road vehicles, ranging from ASIL-A to ASIL-D, the highest level. In this paper, we will describe a controller and electrical architecture as well as providing functional overview of the newly developed Inverter System Safety ASIC (INSSA) that will drive next generation sustainable and safe designs. BorgWarner will therefore share a future perspective on areas of traction inverter technologies and engineering innovation.

ISBN

978-3-9504969-2-5