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US 9,789,871 B1Granted
High efficiency, high power density drive system utilizing complementary motor assemblies
AssigneeAtieva, Inc.
InventorsEmad Dlala, Roberto Melendez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual-motor electric vehicle (EV) drive system is provided that employs two different types of electric motors; at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor and at least one induction asynchronous motor. Under most low demand driving applications the EV relies on the permanent magnet motor(s), thus benefiting from the operating efficiency of this type of motor. Under high demand driving applications, for example during strong acceleration and high speed cruising, the EV is able to benefit from the output power capabilities of the induction motor(s).
Claims15
A drive assembly for an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
- at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, said at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor configured to provide propulsive power to said at least one wheel of said first axle of said EV, wherein a set of permanent magnet motor characteristics corresponding to said at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor is stored in a memory;
- a first motor controller coupled to said at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor;
- at least one induction asynchronous motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second vehicle axle, said at least one induction asynchronous motor configured to provide propulsive power to said at least one wheel of said second axle of said EV, wherein a set of induction motor characteristics corresponding to said at least one induction asynchronous motor is stored in said memory;
- a second motor controller coupled to said at least one induction asynchronous motor;
- and
- a vehicle controller electrically connected to said first motor controller and to said second motor controller, wherein said memory is accessible by said vehicle controller, wherein said vehicle controller is configured to receive a current torque request, wherein said vehicle controller is configured to determine and apply an optimal split between propulsive power supplied by said at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor to said at least one wheel of said first axle of said EV and propulsive power supplied by said at least one induction asynchronous motor to said at least one wheel of said second axle of said EV, wherein said optimal split is based on said current torque request, said set of permanent magnet motor characteristics and said set of induction motor characteristics, and wherein said vehicle controller is configured to continually update said optimal split based on said current torque request, said set of permanent magnet motor characteristics and said set of induction motor characteristics.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.