The competition to squeeze every watt out of Chinese electric cars has just gone up another notch and that is because Geelythrough its subsidiary InfiMotionhas presented the propulsion system “Thunder”, a set that integrates sixteen elements – twelve hardware and four software – in a single unit and achieves an overall efficiency of 93.8%, a figure that the company places as a record in series production.
An integration that reduces weight, wiring and space
What is most striking is the level of concentration that the InfiMotion team has achieved. The system brings together motor, motor controller, reducer, DCDC and OBC converters, power distribution unit, high and low voltage battery management, vehicle control, thermal management, active precharging and power domain gateway. Added to this are four layers of intelligent software for energy management, load management, motion control and system health monitoring.
The result is the elimination of more than 180 redundant components. Everything is housed in a magnesium alloy housing with integrated design for motor, reducer and supports. The total weight drops to 75 kg, 15% less than typical solutions in the sector. Additionally, high voltage wiring is reduced by 30% and low voltage wiring by 15%. With less than 325 mm of height, the assembly frees up approximately 28 additional liters in the trunk.
The power density reaches 11.8 kW/kg, a figure that reflects how compact and light the set has become.
Almost instant response and intelligent behavior when cold
Everything works on an 800 V platform. The key is in the “One-Chip” technology, which compresses the control latency time from about 40 milliseconds on average to just 2 milliseconds. This difference is noticeable in the throttle response and control precision.
In a specific test around Qinghai Lake, a vehicle equipped with the “Thunder” recorded a consumption of 8.2 kWh per 100 km. In the CLTC cycle the system can go down to 10.7 kWh/100 km. Artificial intelligence algorithms optimize operation both at high speed and in extreme cold conditions. At -18°C the system is capable of storing thermal energy equivalent to about 7 kWh, reducing passenger compartment heating consumption by more than 40%.
The “Thunder” debuts in the Geely Galaxy TT, a 100% electric sports sedan presented this month that is offered in two power versions, one with trear drive of 245 kW (329 HP) and another with all-wheel drive of 425 kW (570 HP).
Images via carnewschina
