Smoothing drive to green motoring

Sep 24 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

ELECTRONICS experts in the region are close to developing new technology which could make electric vehicles more energy-efficient.

Tyneside-based technology firms HILTech Developments and Sloan Electronics are working alongside Newcastle University to develop a special engine component which could greatly improve the efficiency of electric vehicles.

The consortium-led project, which was instigated by HILTech and is being managed by automotive consultancy Prodrive, is close to the test phase of its ‘bi-directional DC-DC converter’.

The converter has been designed to reduce the cost, weight and package space associated with hybrid and electric vehicles battery packs.

The device balances the voltage between the motor and the energy storage system, providing a boost or reduction in voltage as necessary.

This allows for more energy to be reclaimed under braking and provides more under acceleration, helping the vehicle to be more efficient.

The technology means that smaller battery packs can be used, while supporting more powerful motors

In May next year the device will be trialled on an electric van and, if successful, it will be manufactured in the North East by HILTech, in partnership with Sloan Electronics, and could help create new jobs in the region in the long-term.

A team at Newcastle University has been charged with coming up with a heat sink – used to lower the temperature of electronic devices – which minimises weight, size and cost, without compromising on performance.

Dr Volker Pickert, who has been leading the university’s work on the project, said: “We had to come up with a clever idea to develop a heat sink to cope with the heat that is generated from the electronics. In all electric cars you have a drive system in the motor and the power converter needs to be cooled.”

HILTech has been involved in developing technology to support clean technologies such as electric vehicles since 1984 and lists Toyota, Ford and Volvo among its portfolio of clients.

Director John Holden said: “This is a true leading edge technology that is going to make electric vehicles improve their efficiency by four or five per cent.”

Meanwhile Sloan Electronics, based in Low Fell, Gateshead, has been tasked with helping to design the final assembly of the product.

The University of Manchester, Birmingham-based commercial van maker LDV and Lancashire manufacturer International Transformers are also involved in the consortium.

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