Optimizing Power Efficiency and Performance for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

With rising interest − and market support − for electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), there is increased competition among automotive manufacturers to deliver superior offerings to an expanding customer base. As the electric motor of an EV needs a high kW source to drive it, the traditional 12 V battery has given way to battery packs on the order of 400−450 V DC as the mainstream battery voltage of choice for EVs and HEVs.

The market is already pushing a shift to even higher voltage batteries. 800 V DC and larger batteries will become more dominant because utilizing a higher voltage means the system can operate at a lower current while achieving the same power output. The advantage of lower current is lower losses and less heat dissipation to manage. Lower current also makes it possible to use smaller cabling to pass power throughout the vehicle.

Evolving EV technology will be critical in enabling more sustainable transportation globally. By the end of 2024, more than 7 million vehicles on the road will be built with onsemi VE−TracTM power modules. Just counting these vehicles will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 29 million metric tons every single year.

For more information see www.electronicspecifier.com/pages/onsemi-automotive-wp