Leading global automotive supplier Marelli has announced that it will contribute with the inverter to the new BMW CE 04 electric scooter, which is recognised as one of the most advanced e-vehicles in its category.
Leveraging on the internal engineering and manufacturing capabilities, the inverter – a core component of the electric engine – is entirely developed and produced in-house and is designed to optimise the utilisation and reuse of energy, maximising performance and efficiency.
The inverter enables the conversion from DC (Direct Current) power derived from batteries to three-phase AC (alternating current) electric power needed for the electric motor. Motorcycle electric applications move the challenges to a higher level, as they have to fit stringent dimensional limits, need to work in an external environment (coping with extreme hot and cold conditions, water, humidity, etc.) and require high power density.
In particular, the inverter for the BMW CE 04 electric scooter delivers a 43.5 kW peak at a nominal voltage of 145V, with full performance (300 Ampere RMS) in the 115-175V range.
In general, this type of inverter features distinctive characteristics such as flexibility and scalable architecture, as it can have more powerful versions (up to 450 Ampere RMS - 348 Volt) fitting in the same space and dimensions.
Also the inverter software has been developed by Marelli, with BMW providing the vehicle software hosted by an Electric Control Unit located in the same inverter case. The software is compliant with Autosar (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) standards and specifically customised for the diagnostic standards required by the vehicle maker. Functional Safety requirements are compliant to ASIL B (Automotive Safety Integrity Level B) standard, the company said.
Hannes Prenn, President, Vehicle Electrification Division, Marelli, said, 'The inverter technology is a key enabler to ensure efficient energy management in every electric vehicle. That's why we continue to design advanced solutions in this field, both for four-wheels and two-wheels, to complement our electrification offer, that also includes electric powertrains and thermal solutions. This is part of our mission of driving e-mobility by delivering to our customers efficient, high performing, reliable and innovative solutions for their EVs.'