Electronica: Renesas shows 8-in-1 EV power axle

Renesas is to reveal the ‘8-in-1’ electric vehicle power axle prototype that it has developed with Nidec.

X-in-1 axles are an attempt to put more and more of an electronic vehicle’s power systems in a single integrated unit.

Last year, the two companies showed their 6-in-1 axle proof-of-concept, combining; motor, inverter, gearbox, dc-dc converter, on-board charger and power distribution unit.

That was intended to use silicon carbide transistors amongst its power componens, with promises to add at least a battery management system for 2024, and to introduce GaN transistors into the dc-dc converter and on-board charger.

So, did they do it?

Yes, as far as the functions, according to Renesas, as the unit that will be on-show tomorrow at Electronica has: motor, inverter (70 – 100kW), gearbox, dc-dc converter (1.5kW), on-board charger (6.6kW), power distribution unit, battery management system and ‘positive temperature co-efficiency’ heater control.

Electronics Weekly asked about the GaN components.

“GaN is not including this 8-in-1 proof-of-concept to meet the needs of cost-effective x-in-1 system after discussion with Nidec,” replied Renesas at Electronica in Munich. “But it is possible to use GaN in technically.”

The 2024 motor inverter section uses IGBT modules, and all eight functions are controlled by a single microcontroller – a 32bit RH850/U2B.

“Renesas also plans to deliver turn-key semiconductor solutions for various x-in-1 systems based on the reference design verified through this proof-of-concept,” it said.

“This project made us realise the importance of developing a scalable design methodology, as the levels of x-in-1 system integration vary from segment to segment,” said Nidec deputy CTO Ryuji Omura.

Find the axle electronics at Electronica in Munich this week (right): hall B4, stand 179, 12-15 November.