High-Voltage Drive Solutions
Vitesco Technologies was among the first suppliers to launch an electric high-voltage (HV) axle drive with integrated power electronics and reducer, into volume series production at the end of 2019. This launch was the result of twelve years of high-voltage technology development. As early as 2007, Vitesco Technologies began development of the powertrain for the first generation of the Renault Zoe and has been advancing HV propulsion technology ever since.
HV drive solutions used in EVs as well as in FCEVs, facilitate locally emission-free driving. We are already on the path towards zero emission mobility and Vitesco Technologies is among the pioneers.
In Hybrid powertrains, HV systems operate in tandem with an ICE, to significantly lower vehicle CO2 emissions. Hybrid powertrains provide a substantial positive impact on car maker fleet fuel consumption globally.
Outlook: To reduce Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) cost and to thus increase its market penetration, Vitesco Technologies has developed the innovative “Cost-efficient PHEV” concept, which integrates the transmission and electric motor, while also facilitating an intelligent compact all-wheel-drive solution.
To increase the efficiency and range of electric powertrains, Vitesco Technologies is developing inverters utilizing state-of-the-art silicon carbide technology (SiC).
Charging Technology
How can you “refuel” an electric vehicle efficiently, fast, and with maximum comfort?
Depending on the available infrastructure, type of vehicle and use case, the answer can be found in different solutions.
Vitesco Technologies has scalable charging technologies for global applications, with its family of on-board chargers (OBC) for standard alternating current (AC) charging, and vehicle junction unit for fast high-power direct current (DC) charging. The OBC covers a range of charging power and is capable of interfacing with electric grids worldwide.
The OBC is also a key device around which other HV components are often integrated into a “High Voltage Box”, enabling the car maker to reduce the overall size, weight and cost of HV electronics and wiring harnesses in the vehicle.
Fuel Cell Technology
FCEVs combine the efficiency of an electric drive while using hydrogen (H2) as the energy carrier, which is converted to electricity during driving. Since the H2 onboard supply can be quickly refilled, FCEVs are suitable for long-distance driving – plus they are very clean as they emit neither CO2 nor pollutants during operation.
Heavy commercial vehicles, which would otherwise require very large batteries for pure electric mobility, can especially benefit from fuel cell technology as a viable alternative to the diesel engine.
For Vitesco Technologies, the long driving range and zero emissions are the motivation for our work on optimizing fuel cell systems. In addition to the re-use of our existing portfolio of sensors, actuators, and electronics, our development also includes the fuel cell stack, in partnership with a leading university in Germany.
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