Context
We deserve to breathe clean airAccording to the European Environment Agency, air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe.
Transport is the fastest growing source of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions, responsible for the emission of 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, of which 72% derive from road transport.
The European context
As defined in the White Paper for transport from 2011, the European Union aims to reduce CO2 emissions from transport by 60% compared to 1990 level by 2050.
In order to do so, the EU has launched the Green Vehicle Initiative, which aims to reach the following targets:
In order to do so, the EU has launched the Green Vehicle Initiative, which aims to reach the following targets:
- Create more energy efficient vehicles using alternative powertrains, strengthening the future competitiveness of the automotive industry.
- Match the transport needs within the EU with highly efficient and more flexible mobility products & services.
Challenges & Solutions
Electric vehicles: challenges & solutionsElectric vehicles are part of the solution to the air pollution problem, but they need improvements for them to be widely commercialized.
Discover how DRIVEMODE's innovation allows to overcome the following issues by clicking on the boxes below or simply by scrolling down
Low battery durationLithium-ion batteries installed in currently commercialized electric cars ensure a limited autonomy compared to petrol cars.
The reduced dimension and the lighter weight of the motors designed by DRIVEMODE offer energy savings for consumers and allow vehicles to travel further on a single charge.
High weightHeavy components, such as the motor, decrease the car's battery duration.
Increasingly, the industry is moving away from silicon to the use of silicon carbide inverters (SiCs), which have a number of significant advantages when twinned with high-voltage systems. SiCs are ideal in DRIVEMODE's modular approach because they allow a reduction in the size of all the crucial components.
“If you go to higher battery voltage and require less current, you also need smaller cables and smaller cables means less cost, less weight in the vehicle. It is also easier to assemble [the modules] in the vehicle.” affirms Roland Bittner, senior engineer at Semikron Elektronik, a partner of DRIVEMODE.
“If you go to higher battery voltage and require less current, you also need smaller cables and smaller cables means less cost, less weight in the vehicle. It is also easier to assemble [the modules] in the vehicle.” affirms Roland Bittner, senior engineer at Semikron Elektronik, a partner of DRIVEMODE.
Long recharge timesCurrently commercialized electric vehicles require long times of recharge.
Higher-voltage systems such as DRIVEMODE's can cut charging times by up to 75% in vehicles using high-speed chargers.
In the real world this means that a car such as the Porsche Taycan, currently the only commercial 800-volt vehicle on the market, can be charged to 80% of its battery capacity in just over 20 minutes.
In the real world this means that a car such as the Porsche Taycan, currently the only commercial 800-volt vehicle on the market, can be charged to 80% of its battery capacity in just over 20 minutes.
High costsOne of the biggest problems battery electric vehicles (BEVs) face is their price.
Part of the reason for the high pricing is a lack of uniformity in production. But there are other big hurdles that impact the cost of BEVs, and they include the cost of batteries and high raw material costs.
“With DRIVEMODE we have a very integrated unit. That way it makes [everything including] the assembly process, the sourcing, the storing and the assembly, to putting it in the vehicle, very optimal, so you have a reduced production cost,” explains Deepak Singh, an engineer from National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), one of the project’s partners.
“With DRIVEMODE we have a very integrated unit. That way it makes [everything including] the assembly process, the sourcing, the storing and the assembly, to putting it in the vehicle, very optimal, so you have a reduced production cost,” explains Deepak Singh, an engineer from National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), one of the project’s partners.
Scalability of drivetrain modules Adaptability of the module to different classes of vehicles
According to Deepak Singh, an engineer from National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), there are three main issues facing mass production of electric vehicles
- Financial: higher production cost, translated to higher price for EVs.
- Manufacturing: the bottleneck due to the supply chain (battery cell, power electronics suppliers).
- Design and development.
Innovation & Results
DRIVEMODE's innovation
To solve the above-mentioned issues, the EU-funded project DRIVEMODE has been working on developing the next generation electric drives in seeking to develop a highly efficient and compact modular electric drivetrain consisting of
- power electronics
- a gearbox
- the motor
Innovation in motion
A mid-sized C-segment car was selected for concept demonstration in DRIVEMODE.
Key data:
• Vehicle weight – 1734 kg
• Top speed – 176 km/h
• Acceleration 0 - 100km – 9.8sec
• Wheel Torque – 3100 Nm
• WLTC efficiency – 64%
• WLTC energy/km –156 Wh/km
Key data:
• Vehicle weight – 1734 kg
• Top speed – 176 km/h
• Acceleration 0 - 100km – 9.8sec
• Wheel Torque – 3100 Nm
• WLTC efficiency – 64%
• WLTC energy/km –156 Wh/km
Benefits
How does DRIVEMODE's innovation impact on our daily lives?
Compared to current battery electric vehicles, DRIVEMODE's Integrated Modular Distributed Drivetrain allows for
- A reduced electric vehicles' cost.
- An increased battery duration and therefore the possibility to travel longer distances with a single charge.
- A much shorter charging time.
So, why should we buy electric cars?Electric vehicles in Europe emit on average three times less carbon bioxide than petrol or diesel cars and are therefore much more environmentally friendly.
Learn more
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We deserve to breathe clean air
The European context
Electric vehicles: challenges & solutions
Low battery duration
High voltage batteries for electric vehicles
High weight
Long recharge times
High costs
Scalability of drivetrain modules
DRIVEMODE's innovation
Innovation in motion
How does DRIVEMODE's innovation impact on our daily lives?
So, why should we buy electric cars?
Want to know more about DRIVEMODE's innovations?