Continental Announces Energy-Saving E-Motor Thermal Sensor for Budget-Friendly Production
In a groundbreaking development, German auto supply company Continental has unveiled the e-Motor Rotor Temperature Sensor (eRTS), a new technology designed to reduce the use of rare earth elements and lower manufacturing costs for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
The eRTS consists of two separate components: a wireless motor temperature sensor unit and a wired transducer. The wireless sensor measures temperature directly at the target area near the magnet, providing more precise measurement results than current software-based temperature simulation. The transducer, on the other hand, is located outside the BEV's motor on the chassis and is connected to the inverter control. It communicates temperature information through a communication interface and draws its energy only from the wired transducer that is connected to the ECU.
The eRTS offers significant advantages due to its less resource consumption and lower costs compared to current solutions. By providing accurate rotor temperature data, the eRTS allows electric motors to operate more efficiently and safely at higher performance thresholds. This enhanced thermal management means that motors can be designed with less reliance on rare earth magnets, which traditionally require extensive cooling due to temperature sensitivity.
The reduced tolerance range also leads to savings on rare earth costs for car manufacturers. The current method has a tolerance range of up to 30°F (15°C) to protect the magnet from demagnetization and uses expensive rare earth elements to cover the range and ensure heat resistance. With the improved measuring accuracy of the eRTS, the tolerance range can be reduced to 6°F (3°C), providing car manufacturers with new design possibilities for permanent-magnet-synchronous BEV motors.
Bin Huo, head of the passive safety and sensorics (PSS) unit of Continental Automotive, stated that investing resources and focusing expertise in the product centre was the right decision. He believes that the eRTS will have a significant impact on the electric vehicle industry, contributing to more sustainable motor design while improving performance.
The eRTS represents a significant advancement in the field of electric vehicle technology. It is the first of its kind, offering a more precise and efficient method of thermal management for BEV motors, ultimately leading to reduced reliance on rare earth elements and lower manufacturing costs. This innovation aligns with industry efforts to reduce dependence on scarce materials while improving electric vehicle performance.
- The advancement in electric vehicle technology, represented by Continental's e-Motor Rotor Temperature Sensor (eRTS), holds potential to revolutionize the automotive industry, particularly in reducing dependence on rare earth elements and cutting manufacturing costs for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
- With its wireless motor temperature sensor unit providing precise measurement results and the transducer drawing energy only from the wired transducer that is connected to the ECU, the eRTS offers significant advantages in efficient and safe operation of electric motors.
- By reducing the tolerance range and offering improved measuring accuracy, the eRTS enables car manufacturers to design permanent-magnet-synchronous BEV motors with less reliance on rare earth magnets, potentially leading to substantial savings on rare earth costs.
