Delphi Aims at a 50% Cost and Size Reduction in Electric Propulsion Inverters
Delphi Corporation (PINKSHEETS: DPHIQ) announcedthat it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead anindustry-government team to develop the next generation propulsion inverterfor hybrid vehicles. The new smaller inverter is lower cost and will beused on the next generation high-efficiency hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)and next generation "plug-in" hybrids (PHEVs). In the longer-term, theinverter will be used for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).
Hybrids and next generation "plug-in" hybrids help conserve energy reservesin reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. The DOEand Delphi view this particular project as a key element of a strategic,public-private partnership to achieve the lower-cost technologies neededfor these advanced vehicles to become more broadly accepted in the U.S.marketplace.
The Delphi-led research and design team will contribute $3 million andreceive $5 million in funding from the DOE, resulting in an $8 millionproject, seeking to reduce the cost and size of the inverter for electricpropulsion systems by 50% or more.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work on this exciting project,"said Thomas Goesch, Delphi managing director of the Power Electronics PBU."We have assembled a team of highly qualified industry leaders and nationallaboratories to identify and develop the key technologies needed for anelectric propulsion inverter that meets or exceeds the DOE performance andcost targets."
The primary team members for the project include: Delphi for the inverterdesign, packaging, thermal management, mechanical integration, build, testand assessment of cost to manufacture; Dow Corning and GeneSiC for siliconcarbide-on-silicon power semiconductor devices; General Electric forhigh-temperature thin-film DC buss capacitors; Argonne National Lab forceramic capacitors; and Oak Ridge National Lab for characterization ofpower semiconductor devices, modeling, simulation and evaluation ofalternative inverter topologies, and system testing.
Propulsion inverters provide phased AC (Alternating Current) power forhybrid vehicle traction motors and generators, as well as auxiliary pumpsand drives. The propulsion inverter enables precise control over electricalpower flow from the battery to the electric motor. One or more electricmotors can be combined with another power source like a gasoline or ethanolengine, an engine-generator, or a fuel cell to propel the vehicle at higherefficiency than conventional engine technology.
In addition to reducing the cost and size of the inverter system, theDelphi team is taking on the challenge of enabling the system to operate atnormal engine coolant-loop temperatures of 105-120°C to help reduce othersystem costs and the space needed to cool today's inverters.
"This will result in development of inverter building blocks that will bereadily scalable to a wide range of power levels, enabling the necessaryeconomies of scale for lower cost," said A.J. Lasley, Delphi chief engineerfor advanced HEV and powertrain electronics.
"Clearly, this is the type of project that will help the economy of Indianaas well as the entire U.S.," said Paul Mitchell, policy director foreconomic development, workforce & energy for Indiana's Governor MitchDaniels, "particularly by reducing everyone's energy costs, but just asimportantly by stimulating growth of the expertise and U.S. industrial basefor advanced 'green' technology. Delphi has been a pioneer in powerelectronics and is building on this legacy by developing the nextgeneration of energy efficient technologies needed to accelerate productionof tomorrow's vehicles today. We are thrilled this innovative work isbeing led here in Indiana and in partnership with many others throughoutour nation, and are hopeful the discoveries generated will lead to newhigh-tech jobs."
About the Team
Delphi Corporation, Troy, MI (http://www.delphi.com), is a leading supplierof mobile electronics and transportation systems globally, includingpowertrain, safety, steering, thermal, and controls & security systems,electrical/electronic architecture, and in-car entertainment technologies.Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Delphi has approximately 169,500 employeesand operates 156 wholly owned manufacturing sites in 34 countries withsales of $22.3 billion in 2007.
Delphi has a long history of successfully developing and commercializingautomotive electronics, producing more than 30,000 powertrain electroniccontrollers every day.
