Electric motors on the test rig

In connection with climate change, there is a noticeable global trend towards a long-term shift away from fossil fuels. Electric motors and hybrid drive trains therefore make an important contribution to a sustainable and environmentally compatible mobility concept. Electric motors have also become essential for industrial applications, such as mechanical engineering.

State of the art

Engineers are working to further develop and optimize electric motors specifically for automotive drive trains. Test rigs are an important tool for this development work.

Technology

Scientists of the KIT Institute of Electrical Engineering (ETI) have developed test rigs for the flexible testing of electric and hybrid drive trains. On the three test rigs at KIT, developers can study electric motors used to drive vehicles, from small cars to racing cars to small trucks. The power electronics and software required to control the test rigs and motors have been developed by KIT engineers. They are designed in a modular manner. Hence, operation of the test rigs is extremely flexible. Industry partners and customers can have motors examined, as well as individual drive train components of the power electronics and software. Furthermore, the motor test rigs have a maximum power of 300 kilowatts and can test drives at up to 18,000 revolutions per minute. The maximum torque is 540 newton meters. In addition to that, high-precision measurements of winding resistances can be carried out and thermal components can be used for precise temperature determination.

Advantages

The study results can be retrieved in real time, e.g. in the form of efficiency maps. Development engineers can use these results to verify their simulation models and optimize the electric motors and their motor control. The test rigs therefore help to ensure that future electric motors use energy more efficiently, are characterized by good dynamics and that vehicles reach higher speeds and accelerate faster.

Options for companies

KIT offers these test rigs for testing and further development of electric motors and power electronics for industrial partners. The test field covers the performance range of hybrid and electric vehicles from the segments of small, medium, upper class and sports cars.