HiWi Project: High Efficiency Electric Drives

Vehicles develop their highest efficiency of around 93-95 % within a speed range of usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the maximum, whereas in real-life driving cycles the motor operates at a wider range of speeds and at partial load, resulting in much lower efficiency. Hi-Wi addresses this mismatch by advancing the design and manufacture of drive trains through holistic design across magnetic, thermal, mechanical and control electronics/algorithms in line with real-life use rather than a single-point "rating". In addition to the above efficiency gains, Hi-Wi addresses the issue of material supply through the development of nanostructured magnetic materials and the development of new driving cycles to more accurately represent in use conditions for electric vehicles.