Demonstration of a EDU/TCU suitable for application to any heavy on/off highway commercial vehicle.
Lead Participant:
INVOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Abstract
Large heavy commercial vehicles are responsible for 39% of the global CO2 emissions from road transport and have a significant detrimental impact on urban air quality and public health.
Utilising a novel "patented" kinematic gear transmission configuration, combined with advanced control software and Helix power dense Motor/Invertors, Involution Technologies will demonstrate a new electric drive unit (EDU) suitable for application in any large on/off-highway vehicle ranging from 25 to 80+tonnes GCVW, including freight transport, transit bus, coach, construction, and agricultural machines.
The core common design technology provides both a central drive and e-axle configuration that may be retrofitted into existing vehicles or applied to dedicated EV platforms.
Product types: -
1\. Central drive EDU single-axle, 4x2 or 6x2, 25-44 tonne
2\. Central drive EDU Multi-axle 6x4, 8x8, 44 -- 80 tonne
3\. 13-tonne E-axle.
Acceleration, gradeability and maximum speed will match or exceed the existing ICE driveline performance whilst operating at zero emissions. Novel control techniques increase part/regenerative load, and efficiency, providing operators with a vehicle performance which is robust to varying usage patterns including payload and drive cycle effects.
The **INVO-EDU** will be demonstrated, and performance tested and brought to the point of customer vehicle trails within the scope of this project.
The INVO-EDU provides **instant and uninterrupted torque and power** delivery across the entire vehicle operating envelope, equivalent to an ICE/ automatic transmission driveline and without the torque-interrupts of an ICE AMT driveline. To the end user, this feels like a direct-drive electric machine with performance characteristics way beyond any known electrical machine in the marketplace.
Key characteristics include: -
37 kNm prop shaft stall torque. (Giving 110 kNm of wheel stall torque)
225 to 540kW continuous power rating with a 15:1 constant power speed ratio.
Continues/seamless torque from vehicle launch to full speed.
3 to 8% lower energy use depending on the duty cycle verse other EDU's.
High continuous power & torque density electric machines \>6 kW/kg and 25Nm/kg
Low new application engineering cost through inherently high system and functional safety.
Low service cost with no wearing of synchronizers or friction clutches.
No specialist driver training requirements.
Best performing HGV EDU in the marketplace.
\*Unmatched stepless torque over a wide speed range.
\*Unlimited power.
\*High duty cycle efficiency -- Best in market.
\*Compact. (Most competitive)
\*Simple robust design. (Long life/ low maintenance)
\*Advanced control system providing optimum efficiency and stepless gear shift.
Utilising a novel "patented" kinematic gear transmission configuration, combined with advanced control software and Helix power dense Motor/Invertors, Involution Technologies will demonstrate a new electric drive unit (EDU) suitable for application in any large on/off-highway vehicle ranging from 25 to 80+tonnes GCVW, including freight transport, transit bus, coach, construction, and agricultural machines.
The core common design technology provides both a central drive and e-axle configuration that may be retrofitted into existing vehicles or applied to dedicated EV platforms.
Product types: -
1\. Central drive EDU single-axle, 4x2 or 6x2, 25-44 tonne
2\. Central drive EDU Multi-axle 6x4, 8x8, 44 -- 80 tonne
3\. 13-tonne E-axle.
Acceleration, gradeability and maximum speed will match or exceed the existing ICE driveline performance whilst operating at zero emissions. Novel control techniques increase part/regenerative load, and efficiency, providing operators with a vehicle performance which is robust to varying usage patterns including payload and drive cycle effects.
The **INVO-EDU** will be demonstrated, and performance tested and brought to the point of customer vehicle trails within the scope of this project.
The INVO-EDU provides **instant and uninterrupted torque and power** delivery across the entire vehicle operating envelope, equivalent to an ICE/ automatic transmission driveline and without the torque-interrupts of an ICE AMT driveline. To the end user, this feels like a direct-drive electric machine with performance characteristics way beyond any known electrical machine in the marketplace.
Key characteristics include: -
37 kNm prop shaft stall torque. (Giving 110 kNm of wheel stall torque)
225 to 540kW continuous power rating with a 15:1 constant power speed ratio.
Continues/seamless torque from vehicle launch to full speed.
3 to 8% lower energy use depending on the duty cycle verse other EDU's.
High continuous power & torque density electric machines \>6 kW/kg and 25Nm/kg
Low new application engineering cost through inherently high system and functional safety.
Low service cost with no wearing of synchronizers or friction clutches.
No specialist driver training requirements.
Best performing HGV EDU in the marketplace.
\*Unmatched stepless torque over a wide speed range.
\*Unlimited power.
\*High duty cycle efficiency -- Best in market.
\*Compact. (Most competitive)
\*Simple robust design. (Long life/ low maintenance)
\*Advanced control system providing optimum efficiency and stepless gear shift.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| INVOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | £754,934 | £ 377,467 |
Participant |
||
| DEPE GEAR COMPANY LIMITED | £162,534 | £ 81,267 |
| INTEGRAL POWERTRAIN LIMITED | £436,734 | £ 218,367 |
| INNOVATE UK |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Frank Cunliffe (Project Manager) |