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Electric Drive Test

  • Accelerating EV Motor and Traction Inverter Validation

    Aggressive schedules, rapidly changing test requirements, and third-party equipment/model integration are just some of the challenges EV powertrain engineering teams are facing in the race to design traction inverters and motors with higher efficiency and faster torque response. These challenges have created a demand for flexible test systems that can adapt to changing requirements and enable engineers to test earlier in the design cycle, thus reducing the cost of expensive road tests.

 

Model-Based Development Drives Productivity

Electric Vehicle Motor Design and Validation

From model validation to field testing, and all phases in between, NI’s expertise in optimization through model-based development and test asset reuse is key to accelerating EV drive validation:

  • Increase test coverage and safety with FPGA-based vehicle simulation and electromechanical models
  • Transition seamlessly from model/signal-level to power-level/dynamometer testing, reusing IP through each phase
  • Address future needs through scalable measurements and extensible hardware 
  • Leverage data analytics throughout the development process to drive insights and make informed decisions  
Electric Powertrain Design and Validation

FEATURED SOLUTION

Validating Traction Inverter Controllers

Traction inverter design and validation engineers need to test hybrid and electric vehicle inverters for software and electrical functionality at the signal level with a closed-loop simulator. By simulating vehicle dynamics, battery, and electro-mechanical models on NI FPGAs, the Inverter Test System provides more comprehensive inverter controller testing and reduces costly physical testing time.

Inverter Test System Diagram

Measurement rack containing a real-time controller running vehicle models, open FPGA module running inverter/motor models, measurement and communications I/O, and signal conditioning for fault insertion.

Innovate Faster

Open software enables parameterization of models from common third-party suppliers, including MathWorks Simulink® software, on NI FPGAs in real-time for vehicle, battery, electro-mechanical motor component simulation, and/or power electronics emulation.

Adapt to Changing Requirements

Flexible hardware scales with your requirements. Seamlessly add more measurement or control I/O, and quickly integrate NI or third-party power electronics hardware when moving from signal-level to power-level/eDyno testing.

Avoid Costly Downtime

Digital twin modelling of the test cell to simulate tests before introducing expensive power electronics capital equipment in order to avoid costly failures and maximize safety.

Mitigate Resource Constraints

NI offers a broad spectrum of services to help meet aggressive program schedules, whether it’s quick assistance over phone or email or longer-term support with on-site integration or development assistance.

Related Products & Solutions

  • CUSTOMER STORIES

    Subaru Electric Motor ECU HIL

    Using NI FPGA-based simulation, Subaru reduced the test time to 1/20 of the estimated time for equivalent testing on a dynamometer.

    CUSTOMER STORIES
 

Innovate Faster with NI Partners

From turnkey test systems to assistance getting started, NI Partners can help you meet your time-to-market goals quicker. NI’s global partner ecosystem includes subject matter experts in electric vehicle powertrain test. With their years of experience, your company can reach Vision Zero faster.

NI Partner Network

An NI Partner is a business entity independent from NI and has no agency, partnership, or joint-venture relationship with NI.

Simulink® is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.