Together with Łukasiewicz – PIMOT for electromobility

Last months have brought us two more projects with the ŁUKASIEWICZ - Automotive Industry Institute (pl. Łukasiewicz – Przemysłowy Instytut Motoryzacji) that is a part of Łukasiewicz Research Network (pl. Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz) - Europe's third biggest research organisation.

PAWO with DANA/TM4 electric motor

The first of projects is called “Autonomous Operational Support Platform” (pl. abbrev. PAWO). PAWO is an electric vehicle that is capable of remote-controlled or autonomous driving.

The platform was primarily designed for the uniformed services. It is a base vehicle ready to be fitted for specific tasks. Results of the project are the basis for developing new technologies in the field of autonomous systems and unmanned platforms. In the next years, these areas may have a major impact on the national security and defence. PAWO uses the first generation Motive DANA/TM4 powertrain system offered by our company. The system includes the HSM20 electric motor with a nominal power of 32 kW and a peak power of 40 kW and the CO150MV inverter. HSM20 electric motor alone weighs 27 kg and the inverter -another 12.2 kg. Thus, the entire powertrain system weighs approx. 40 kg. MOTIVE series of powertrain systems is powered by medium-voltage traction batteries. We have fitted this solution in accordance with the customer requirements. The full-vehicle integration itself was carried out by ŁUKASIEWICZ – Automotive Industry Institute Thanks to application of the electric powertrain, the operational support platform has

a low noise level, practically in any conditions. The range of the platform on a single charge is 105 km. PAWO project itself is carried out within the framework of a programme for young scientists towards national security and defence called "Future technology for defence - a competition for young scientists”. The competition received co-financing of the National Centre for Research and Development (pl. abbrev. NCRD) in the amount of almost PLN 4 million. The main objective of the project was to develop and build an autonomous system including an unmanned platform that enables navigation in an unknown terrain and performance of tasks, which depend on additional handling equipment. As we have already mentioned, the vehicle is capable of remote-controlled or autonomous driving. In the autonomous driving mode, the operator - by means of dedicated app- defines the destination point to which the platform intends to go. The route is determined by an autonomy algorithm and it is continuously modified depending on the detected obstacles. The platform stops when the target is reached. In addition, thanks to installed sensors, it allows for accurate observation and analysis of the surrounding area. We congratulate the Institute on another, interesting project. We also would like to thank for our successful cooperation. The Autonomous Operational Support Platform with Dana/TM4 motor was presented at this year's MSPO trade fair in Kielce, on a joint stand of Łukasiewicz Research Network with an offer for the defence and security sector. The project was carried out in a consortium: Łukasiewicz Research Network (pl. Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz) – Automotive Industry Institute (pl. Przemysłowy Instytut Motoryzacji )(the project leader) and Born Elecric sp. z o.o.

Dana/ TM4 3-Phase inverter for the electric bus

Auxiliary power supply in electric and hybrid vehicles

In the second project, our task was to choose and deliver DANA/TM4 3-phase DC/AC inverter for an electric bus being developed by Łukasiewicz - PIMOT together with the bus manufacturer.

Electrification of commercial vehicles accelerated the transition from alternator-powered auxiliaries, to components that operate at higher voltages and fed directly from the EV's high-voltage traction battery using DC/AC or DC/DC inverters. Construction of the DC/AC converter is based on construction and components of a 3-phase CO150 inverter. The task of this inverter is generation of 3-phase AC with configurable amplitude and frequency supplied from a DC battery. This voltage source uses the latest automotive qualified technology of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) to provide the highest power and current density in this sector. Built-in, advanced control algorithms for optimal use and performance of the power module make this compact system an ideal power source for AC-powered devices in electric and hybrid vehicles.

In these vehicles, inverters of this type are used to supply, among others:

! air conditioning ! compressors ! electric heating ! synchronous and asynchronous motors ! other subsystems requiring a 3-phase AC power supply.

In the project led by Łukasiewicz - PIMOT, the inverter will be used to supply (with the appropriate voltage) the air conditioning and the compressor of a pneumatic system. The Institute participates in works of a research group called “Intelligent and Pure Mobility” of the Łukasiewicz Research Network. In these frames it carries out works in the field of electromobility and environmentally friendly constructional solutions that, among others, are intended for the means of transport.