Ricardo reveals details of latest e-motor and eDCT

United-Kingdom engineering specialist Ricardo recently revealed extensive development details of its latest automotive 48-V 25-kW e-motor and associated inverter, which it claims can deliver up to a 50% increase in power density compared with current production electric machines. The project is of potential significance to automotive OEMs moving towards high-volume electric-vehicle (EV) production models requiring enhanced motor power density without cost and complexity drawbacks.

Emphasis during the new e-motor's development was placed on thermal management-chiefly, gaining efficiency via reduction of thermal resistance, particularly concerning the inverter's metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). Ricardo revealed its solution is based on the use of direct oil cooling of the heat sink, using the same automatic transmission fluid used to cool the emotor itself.