Project
HOPE - High density power electronics for FC - and ICE - Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains
Funding origin:
European
STRIA Roadmaps:
Transport electrification (ELT)
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Transport mode:
Road
Transport sectors:
Passenger transport
Freight transport
CORDIS link:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/19848
Duration:
Start date: 01/01/2006,
End date: 01/12/2008
Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€4 093 000
EU Contribution:
€2 398 000
Overview
Background & policy context:
The project HOPE addressed power electronics. It was based on previous EU research projects such as FW5 HIMRATE (high-temperature power modules), FW5 PROCURE (high-temperature passive components), and MEDEA+ HOTCAR (high-temperature control electronics) and other EU and national research projects.
Objectives:
The general objectives of HOPE were:
- cost reduction;
- meet reliability requirements;
- reduction of volume and weight.
This was a necessity to bring the FC- and ICE-hybrid vehicles to success.
Methodology:
- Definition of specifications common to OEM for FC- and ICE-hybrid vehicle drive systems; Identification of common key parameters (power, voltage, size) that allows consequent standardisation; developing a scalability matrix for power electronic building blocks PEBBs. The power ranges were much higher than those of e.g. HIMRATE and went beyond 100 kW electric power.
- Preparation of works out one reference mission profile to be taken as the basis for the very extensive reliability tests planned.
- Investigation of key technologies for PEBBs in every respect: materials, components (active Si- and SiC switches, passive devices, sensors), new solders and alternative joinings, cooling, and EMI shielding.
- Development of three PEBBs: HDPM (high density power module) based on double side liquid cooling of the power semiconductor devices; IML (power mechatronics module) based on a lead-frame technology; and SiC-PEBB inverter (silicon carbide semiconductor JFET devices instead of Si devices).
- Development of a control unit for high-temperature control electronics for the SiC-PEBBs. Finally WP6 works on integrating the new technologies invented in HOPE into powertrain systems and carries out a benchmark tests.
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