However, the requirements for electric motors are very different. What all future aggregate concepts have in common is that they will integrate the mechanical and electrical/electronic systems to a large degree – Figure 1. Accordingly, the power spectrum of electric drives is very broad – from 20 kW to more than 400 kW. The first manufacturers have already launched projects with an 800-volt on-board electric system in order to achieve short battery charging times at acceptable current levels. Their complexity is increased by the fact that electric drives can be operated at various voltage levels, ranging from 48 V for initial hybridization to 400 V in purely battery-driven vehicles.

Wheel-hub drives for new mobility concepts.

Electric axle drives for dedicated hybrid powertrains and purely electric vehicles.

Dedicated hybrid transmissions for specifically realizing hybrid and electric driving modes.

Hybrid modules for integration in the powertrain of the combustion engine.

Four classes of aggregates are needed for the design implementation of these powertrains: At the same time, very different topologies are being implemented for the powertrain, which can be classified based on its installation position. Meanwhile, it is now foreseeable that electrified vehicle quantities will reach large proportions during the current decade and that the degree of mechatronic integration will increase considerably. While the power electronics for the tractive drive was still a separate system at this time, it was already installed on the axle for torque vectoring. Both generations of the concept vehicle had torque vectoring in each wheel independently. The drive now included new power electronics developed within the company. While the gear ratio of the motor and axle speed was fixed initially, a third generation rear axle drive with a two-speed transmission and nominal power reduced to 65 kW was employed in the same concept vehicle beginning in 2014. Even then, these motors were units that had been developed within the company. The combustion engine in a Škoda Octavia was replaced with two electric axle drives, each with 105 kW of nominal power.

Schaeffler already proved back in 2011 that it possesses system expertise with the “Active e-drive” concept vehicle. Optimal efficiency, range, and system costs can only be achieved through the interaction of the motor, power electronics, sensors, mechanical integration, and control strategy, which is why a system-oriented approach is needed. The development of electric drives goes way beyond the electric motor.

Endless space 2 increase system level