Automaker Unveils First Magnetless Electric Motor, More Economical, Efficient, and Cost-Effective

Vitesco Unveils Innovations for the Vehicle Electrification Market at the 35th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) in Oslo, Held from June 11 to 15.

In Oslo, the German automotive company presented for the first time its optimized drive motor for higher ranges of electric cars in the future. The so-called externally excited synchronous machine (EESM) does not require the use of rare earth metals and is specifically designed for high ranges, faster driving on highways, and therefore for future electric vehicles with long-distance autonomy.

Event in Oslo

Oslo is the meeting point for all the major names in automotive electrification. The company showcased the highlights of its current portfolio there, as well as innovations for the future requirements of electromobility — for particularly efficient electric driving.

Permanent magnet synchronous machines (PSM) are now standard in vehicle electrification. This is due to the high efficiency of these electric motors in city traffic or mid-range. Permanent magnets based on rare earths are installed in the rotors of PSM motors.

Meanwhile, however, the general conditions for electric drives are changing: the ranges of battery electric vehicles are increasing, and on real long-distance routes with fast highway driving, externally excited synchronous machines (EESM) show their advantage. Especially at high speeds, they are more efficient than PSMs.

Using Coils Instead of Magnets

Instead of magnets, the rotor presented here uses coils. In addition to efficiency at high speeds, this offers the advantage of avoiding the prices of permanent magnets, which have already reached a maximum of 10 years. Moreover, the CO₂ footprint of the unit is reduced by the share attributable to rare earth mining, which can have a positive impact on the product sustainability over its lifecycle.

Vitesco Technologies is therefore preparing a portfolio expansion that will make EESM technology available for its already successful axle drive, including power electronics. The company has many years of field experience with this technology and therefore has a certain advantage in development and industrialization.

In a second focus of presentation at the EVS Symposium, Vitesco Technologies will present systems and solutions that make electric driving even more efficient. These include, in addition to the integrated electric axle drive:

• battery management to monitor its state of charge, enhancing safety and lifespan;
• power electronics, a key component of any electrified drive, providing energy not only to the electric motor but also to the high-voltage battery;
• thermal management for greater range and comfort and faster charging;
• high-voltage box, acting as the central electronics for electric vehicle charging technology, as well as for power supply in the vehicle;
• master controller, which acts as a small server providing everything an electric vehicle needs to drive.

“With our portfolio, we are clearly focusing on global and scalable platforms for electrified vehicles. This is where we see growth, and it is also where the potential for sustainable and increasingly CO₂-neutral mobility of the future lies,” says Thomas Stierle.

Glass Inverter with High-Resolution Measurement Technology

Another highlight is a vehicle that functions as a rolling test bench. Here, the function of the inverter can be monitored in real-time — thanks to highly sophisticated measurement technology. From this “glass inverter,” selected values such as current flows, efficiencies, and losses are transmitted to the Vitesco Technologies Cloud.

Among other things, this feature showcases the know-how in measurement technology from previous development work on high-efficiency silicon carbide (SiC) inverters, which Vitesco Technologies will begin series production of in 2023.

The EVS Symposium has established itself as a high-level event for vehicle electrification, covering everything from micromobility to heavy-duty services, public transport systems, aviation, and maritime. The organizer itself speaks of the largest electric mobility symposium in the world.