Horse Powertrain has announced a significant advancement in electric vehicle (EV) powertrain technology with its new hybrid transmission motor. The company reports that this innovative motor achieves an impressive 98.2% efficiency while delivering a robust 140 kW of power and 360 Nm of torque.
Revolutionary Amorphous Steel Construction
The key to this breakthrough lies in the motor’s stator, which incorporates amorphous steel alloy layers. These layers are remarkably thin, measuring just 0.025 mm in thickness. This is approximately one-tenth the thickness of the steel typically used in conventional electric motors.
According to Horse Powertrain, this ultra-thin amorphous steel construction significantly reduces stator iron losses. The company states that these losses are cut by 50% compared to designs using traditional steel. This reduction in energy loss is the primary factor enabling the motor to reach its high claimed efficiency figure of 98.2%.
Target Applications and Benefits
Horse Powertrain is specifically targeting hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) applications for this new motor. The substantial efficiency gain offered by this technology has direct implications for vehicle performance and environmental impact.
The company projects that the improved efficiency can translate into a tangible reduction in overall vehicle fuel and power consumption. Specifically, they estimate a 1% decrease in consumption when compared to existing motor designs currently available in the market.
Industry Reaction and Future Outlook
Ingo Scholten, deputy CTO at Horse Powertrain, highlighted the company’s dedication to innovation. “This latest innovation demonstrates Horse Powertrain’s continued commitment to research and development,” Scholten stated.
He further emphasized the motor’s potential impact on the evolving EV landscape. Scholten described the new motor as “an ideal tool” for the development of a new generation of highly efficient hybrid and range-extended EVs, suggesting a strategic focus on optimizing these vehicle architectures.
Understanding Amorphous Steel in EV Motors
Amorphous steel, also known as metallic glass, is a material that lacks a crystalline structure. This unique atomic arrangement offers distinct advantages in electromagnetic applications like EV motors.
In conventional electric motors, the magnetic core is typically made from laminated silicon steel. While effective, these materials experience energy losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents when subjected to alternating magnetic fields. These losses contribute to heat generation and reduce overall efficiency.
The amorphous nature of the steel used by Horse Powertrain significantly reduces hysteresis loss. Furthermore, the extremely thin layers help to minimize eddy currents, as the path for induced currents is much shorter. This combination of reduced losses directly translates into higher efficiency and improved thermal performance for the motor.
The Growing Importance of EV Motor Efficiency
As the automotive industry accelerates its transition towards electrification, the efficiency of electric motors has become a paramount concern. Higher motor efficiency means that more of the electrical energy supplied to the motor is converted into mechanical motion, with less wasted as heat.
This has several key benefits for electric and hybrid vehicles:
- Extended Range: More efficient use of energy allows vehicles to travel further on a single charge or with a smaller battery pack.
- Reduced Energy Consumption: Lower power usage translates to lower running costs for consumers.
- Improved Performance: Less energy wasted as heat can contribute to more consistent performance, especially under demanding conditions.
- Smaller, Lighter Components: Achieving a target power output with higher efficiency might allow for the use of smaller or lighter motor and battery components, contributing to overall vehicle weight reduction.
The development by Horse Powertrain, utilizing amorphous steel, represents a significant step forward in addressing these critical efficiency demands for the next wave of electrified vehicles.
About Horse Powertrain
Horse Powertrain is a company focused on developing advanced powertrain solutions for the automotive industry. Their work encompasses the design and engineering of components and systems aimed at enhancing performance, efficiency, and sustainability in vehicles.
The company’s commitment to research and development is evident in its pursuit of novel materials and designs, such as the amorphous steel motor, to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities presented by the global shift towards electric mobility.
Source: Horse Powertrain