PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Inverter innovation
New electric vehicle inverters offer high-power density, greater operating
efficiency and safety, all in a compact and lightweight design
Inverters, which draw
electricity from the battery
and control how it is applied to the
motor to manage power and torque,
are key to the development of
electrified vehicles with increasingly
higher power levels. Eaton has
created new power-dense inverters
for electric vehicles that boast 98%
operating e iciency and a power
density of 35kW per liter – the
highest functional safety level and
power density, but with a low cost
per kilowatt.
The inverters have redundant
controls for added safety, which
allows OEMs to implement their
individual control strategies to
provide di erent operating
with the critical ISO
26262 standard for
the strictest safety
(ASIL) D.
energy. High-power density and
compact, lightweight design help
maximize range while requiring
minimal space in the vehicle. The
inverters also provide leading
performance with power-dense
packaging that is strong and
adaptable and can be tailored to
a wide range of customer
requirements and applications.
Electrified vehicles are projected
to increase to 70% of the global
passenger car market by 2030, with
share dispersed among battery
electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid
electric and mild hybrid electric
drivetrains, according to Eaton data.
A cross section view of Eaton’s inverter
technology, which is comes in power-dense
and strong packaging
The inverters’ modular framework
design enables common controls
across di erent inverter models,
leveraging industrial technology for
automotive applications and
reducing design time costs for
manufacturers. Eaton o ers a wide
variety of inverter applications such
as low-voltage inverters for truck
accessories, high-voltage inverters
and traction inverters.
With the inverter market for
electric vehicles still emerging, it is
critical inverters are flexible enough
158 // July 2019 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
to adapt to numerous
types of electrified
vehicles in varying
segments. Eaton
developed its innovative
new line of inverters by
leveraging its diverse
products, expertise and global
manufacturing capabilities from its
electrical and vehicle groups. It
focuses on three primary areas for
both automotive and commercial
vehicle customers: intelligent power
electronics, power systems, and
advanced power distribution and
circuit protection.
The power distribution and
protection category includes fuses,
supercapacitors and power
distribution units (PDUs), while
converters and on-board chargers
fall under power electronics. Power
systems include electric vehicle
transmissions for a variety of
medium- and heavy-duty
applications, as well as a 48V
regenerative accessory drive system
for heavy-duty trucks.
The continuous development of
new products, including smart
diagnostic technologies, intelligent
power electronics and predictive
health monitoring, influence
eMobility’s capabilities and deliver
intelligent electrification solutions
to passenger car, commercial
vehicle and o -highway customers.
Eaton has high-voltage,
fast-acting fuses in electrified cars
and power electronics around the
globe and has more than 15 years
of experience in developing
commercial vehicle hybrid systems
and a variety of vehicle
electrification products in the
market, including DC/DC
converters, power distribution units,
battery-electric transmissions, and
high-voltage fuses.
The new inverters boast
98% operating effi ciency
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experiences. To meet future
requirements, t the inverters have
been developed to comply
functional safety. Rated to
standards, the inverters
achieve an Automotive
Safety Integration Level
Due to the inverter’s
high e iciency, they reduce size and
weight, generate less heat, have
increased lifespan and waste less
background and experience
in both the electrical and
transportation sectors.
Eaton’s eMobility unit, founded in
2018, was formed by combining
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