Our solutions accelerate the development and the validation of all power electronics components. This applies especially to in-vehicle applications that require different voltages to connect different sources and loads. Highly-efficient converters for the charging process (AC/DC converters using ultra-fast (>200kHz) power electronics) and in-vehicle power management converters (DC/DC converters) serve this purpose. Depending on the vehicle architecture, this kind of converter control can also be integrated in the charging controller as well as in the motor controller. Similar conversions apply not only to automotive components, but to any kind of power electronics typologies.
Challenges
Since the various electric systems of an electric vehicle operate at different voltage levels, intelligently-controlled power electronics components, guarantee an efficient energy transfer. This applies to all different types of electric vehicles such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and fuel cell vehicles (FCV).
- While DC charging of PHEV and BEV, the electric energy flows directly from the charging station to the highvoltage vehicle battery. In case of AC charging, the AC/DC conversion is performed via the vehicle onboard charger which is connected to the high-voltage battery. In addition, DC/DC converters are used to generate the energy for lower voltage levels (12 V and 48 V).
- In FCV, the DC voltage provided by the fuel cell also must be converted.
- In mild HEV, the highvoltage level is usually 48 V. Bidirectional DC/DC converters are used to interconnect the 12V and 48V board net.
Reduction of size and weight as well as increasing efficiency are major challenges of converter development.
Our Solutions for Power Management
dSPACE offers a wide range of solutions for developing and testing control algorithms and power electronics throughout the entire range of electric vehicle components.
Starting from simple DC/DC converters up to complex power management units connecting several energy sources (onboard charger, high-voltage battery, low-voltage batteries), dSPACE brings your ideas to life.
In addition to our product portfolio, custom-specific functions and implementations are available on request.
Central Test Method for Validating ECUs
The dSPACE HIL test systems provide a simulated environment for efficient and reproducible validation of real ECUs in the laboratory 24/7. This increases test coverage and shortens validation times significantly. Our HIL solutions cover all vehicle domains from autonomous driving to zero emissions – starting with component testing and up to virtual vehicle testing.
Closing the Gap Between HIL and Dynamometer Testing
With our power HIL systems, we offer ready-to-use solutions for testing any kind of inverter, including the controller and power electronics, at full power. Using real voltages and currents, our systems enable you to complete exceptionally rigorous tests. Our systems behave like a digital twin of the real system and allow for easy configuration with just a few clicks, which significantly reduces setup times.
Software-in-the loop (SIL) testing with the powerful dSPACE solution for PC- and cloud-based simulation
With the dSPACE solution for software-in-the loop (SIL) testing, you can significantly accelerate your software development process by testing and validating virtually. dSPACE offers you a complete, modular, scalable development and test solution. You can conveniently simulate a device-under-test on a PC, connect it to physics-based models, run scalable tests in the cloud, and then easily reuse test scripts on hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems.
Data Management and Collaboration Software for Automated ECU Testing
SYNECT, our solution for the efficient and automated verification and validation of ECU software, helps engineers worldwide handle all test parameters, their dependencies, versions and variants, and the underlying requirements throughout the entire development process.
This results in consistent data versions and complete traceability as required in homologation processes, and an efficient reuse of data in other projects.
Optimized Production Software Development
The central challenges in production software development include the optimization of RAM resources, run time, and integration into the overall system. Furthermore, it must be possible to split the software in such a way that regular software updates are possible. And before the final software release, special validation and often a release process are required.
