{"id":29756,"date":"2023-05-08T09:45:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T08:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=29756"},"modified":"2023-05-08T09:51:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T08:51:44","slug":"optimising-electric-vehicle-propulsion-system-efficiency-and-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/optimising-electric-vehicle-propulsion-system-efficiency-and-sustainability\/29756\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimising electric vehicle propulsion system efficiency and sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"
Electric vehicles (EVs) can be less complex, requiring less maintenance and fewer parts than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. But determining the most efficient and sustainable EV propulsion system, while also achieving specific company goals, is not a simple process.<\/p>\n
There are many ways to move toward electrification. Across industries, there are plenty of different energy storage systems, motor topologies, and technologies being tested and implemented, with the manufacturing processes for each being developed in parallel.<\/p>\n
The key to success is having a partner that is well-versed in full-system integration. One that understands the critical sub-systems and interactions that make an EV propulsion system deliver the intended attribute combination, whilst having an in-depth knowledge of the resources and techniques available to improve sustainability.<\/p>\n
Drive System Design (DSD) specialises in the rapid engineering and development of electrified propulsion systems and associated technologies and has been helping a broad array of customers across industries better understand the electrified solutions that best meet their individual needs. Leveraging decades of experience and turnkey capabilities, DSD offers unparalleled proficiency in systems integration, simulation-led design, efficiency enhancement, development testing, and the analysis and control of transmission systems and electrified powertrains.<\/p>\n
The company works collaboratively with automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace, off-highway and defence OEMs, Tier-1s, and industry groups to help them pave the path that aligns with their respective environmental, attribute, and performance goals. When developing an electric propulsion system, there are many considerations to uncover the best path forward, including:<\/p>\n
DSD is a simulation-led company, using a variety of modelling and analysis tools to simulate how sub-systems perform and interact before clients move too far into the resource and cost-intensive prototype manufacturing phase, where rework is most costly.<\/p>\n
In recent years, the company has assisted mobility clients with swiftly identifying the best propulsion system makeup that meets their unique goals, using its proprietary Electrified Powertrain Optimisation Process (ePOP). The advanced software-based tool combines DSD\u2019s extensive expertise along with its unique toolsets and processes to quickly analyse tens to hundreds of thousands of powertrain combinations against mass, range, cost, and efficiency, across multiple vehicle drive cycles, types, and segments.<\/p>\n
A core purpose of ePOP is to understand how specific motors, inverters, and transmissions work together at an integrated system level versus an isolated sub-system optimisation approach. A highly targeted subset of powertrain configurations can be pinpointed based on this analysis.<\/p>\n
Various combinations can be analysed, refining and focusing on data inputs that give detailed insight into attribute tradeoffs, such as power losses versus costs, to further hone in on the most suitable powertrain makeup. Motor topology, performance, ratio span and count, power electronics technology, power density, and more, can be mapped out using ePOP.<\/p>\n
Beyond identifying the most efficient EV system, it is also important to consider whether there are more sustainable elements that should be considered. True, the push for electrification is rooted in the desire for a more environmentally-friendly world, but there is still more work to be done beyond committing to a fleet of EVs, aircraft, tractors, trucks and more. Even within the confines of engineering EVs, there is more that can be done, perhaps a more sustainable way of approaching EV design.<\/p>\n
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When it comes to sustainability, there are additional questions to consider:<\/p>\n
Total cost of ownership and the environmental impact of the system can also be estimated in ePOP as well as trend predictions, such as forecasting the technological impact of changes in rare earth material costs, given that so many EV products will not come to market now, but in three to five years after they are first conceived.<\/p>\n