Welcome to the latest cluster member: ODYSSEV!

We are very honored to introduce to you the latest addition to the E-VOLVE Cluster: the ODYSSEV project – Optimised DYnamics of high voltage powertrains: developing Sustainable Systems for Electric Vehicles.

Optimised high-voltage powertrains for sustainable electric vehicles

Europe’s push towards climate-neutral mobility demands electric vehicles with longer range, faster charging times and lower cost. The EU-funded ODYSSEV project is developing optimised high-voltage powertrains that minimise losses, weight and cost while boosting efficiency. It proposes a hybrid inverter that maximises techno-economic performance across operating conditions and is designing a reconfigurable battery architecture: 400-800 V during charging and up to 1 200-1 600 V in traction. The project will deliver a 1 200 V, 100 kW powertrain with improved high-voltage motor, on-board charging, packaging and system control, using sustainable and safe-by-design methods and PHIL virtual validation. A demo vehicle targets 30 % fewer losses, 20 % more range and 20-80 % charge in 10 minutes on 350 kW chargers in real-world testing.

Objective

As the demand for fully EVs rises due to sustainability and decarbonization efforts, consumers’ concerns such as longer driving ranges and quicker charging times must be addressed. To this end, ODYSSEV is developing advanced automotive power converters and optimizing powertrain elements to utilize HV levels and novel electronic topologies.
The project centers on a hybrid inverter concept that leverages the benefits of both RC-IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs under various load conditions, aiming for the best techno-economic performance. Innovations include optimizing the HV motor’s geometry and topology to avoid issues like partial discharge and current harmonics, and designing a reconfigurable battery pack. This battery pack can be charged at lower voltages (400-800V) and provide higher voltages (1200-1600V) during traction mode. The preliminary design targets a 1200V and 100 kW powertrain, with various scenarios to be analyzed for potential HVs.
Additionally, ODYSSEV will innovate in areas such as the on-board charger, system packaging, and overall powertrain control. The project aims to demonstrate this HV powertrain integrated in a real vehicle in real driving tests, thereby providing evidence of reduced costs, losses, and weight for EV manufacturers.
The ODYSSEV project involves a consortium of 14 partners from 8 countries, including research institutions, universities, and industrial stakeholders. This group will employ a Safe and SSbD, utilizing virtual environments with PHIL capabilities for cost-effective and efficient prototyping. The consortium has access to necessary facilities and networks for manufacturing, prototyping, and testing innovative automotive solutions.
The expected impact includes a 30% reduction in energy losses and a 20% increase in driving range, with significant cost reductions (up to 20% for power electronic modules) and enhanced fast-charging capabilities (20-80% charge in 10 minutes with 350kW chargers).

Source: cordis

Find more infos about ODYSSEV here!

The research leading to these results have received funding from European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme H2020 and Horizon Europe.

Special credit is to be given to the project ACHILES (824311) under the lead of VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL for the initial setup and continuous management of the E-VOLVE Cluster between 2018 and 2022. Thanks a lot for the efforts and initiative that is highly appreciated.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the funding authority can be held responsible for them.