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Elinta Motors innovative six-phase asynchronous motor control
Published on 12 March 2021
Lithuania
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About this good practice
In 2014, Elinta Motors, one of the most innovative companies in Lithuania, started to develop its own products for commercial e-mobility. Company is engaged in design, development, and production of drive and battery system products. They have developed universal PHEV and EV drive system solutions for 3.5t- 7.0t trucks and buses. With all in-house development, company can provide high reliability and efficiency drive system for any commercial vehicle application.
Three-phase asynchronous motors are widely used in industry. However, the application of these devices in commercial vehicles is limited due to the complexity of their control. With the introduction of a six-phase drive, a much more efficient motor could be developed, which could later be fitted to larger cars, especially electric cars. As a result, the company implemented the project in order to create innovative six-phase asynchronous motor control methods and controllers. For this reason, company applied for the financial instrument under the first priority of the Lithuanian Operational Programme “Intelektas. Bendri mokslo-verslo” projektai, which is dedicated to foster R&D activities and business-science cooperation. With the help of this instrument, a methodology for a six-phase asynchronous motor was developed and during the technology development phase, a prototype of a six-phase electric drive was created. Created prototype was later installed into Mazda RX-8 for further testing under real life conditions.
Three-phase asynchronous motors are widely used in industry. However, the application of these devices in commercial vehicles is limited due to the complexity of their control. With the introduction of a six-phase drive, a much more efficient motor could be developed, which could later be fitted to larger cars, especially electric cars. As a result, the company implemented the project in order to create innovative six-phase asynchronous motor control methods and controllers. For this reason, company applied for the financial instrument under the first priority of the Lithuanian Operational Programme “Intelektas. Bendri mokslo-verslo” projektai, which is dedicated to foster R&D activities and business-science cooperation. With the help of this instrument, a methodology for a six-phase asynchronous motor was developed and during the technology development phase, a prototype of a six-phase electric drive was created. Created prototype was later installed into Mazda RX-8 for further testing under real life conditions.
Resources needed
Project value was 422 977,48 EUR, of which 235 754,51 was funded by ERDF.
Evidence of success
• New knowledge will be used to create new products, which would solve the common problems of the users of three-phase asynchronous motors.
• Company is expecting to use gained knowledge to become one of only a few companies in Europe which would develop electric drives for commercial transport.
• In 2020, the company expects to launch at least 20 test cars using the technology developed during the project, and by the end of 2021 to beat 3 million km and have at least 100 electric vehicles
• Company is expecting to use gained knowledge to become one of only a few companies in Europe which would develop electric drives for commercial transport.
• In 2020, the company expects to launch at least 20 test cars using the technology developed during the project, and by the end of 2021 to beat 3 million km and have at least 100 electric vehicles
Potential for learning or transfer
The project was particularly important as it responded to the issue of science-business cooperation. Analysis of innovation potential in project regions indicated that science-business cooperation in some of the regions is quite low and there is a need to foster this element. In this case, by using financial instrument “Intelektas. Bendri mokslo-verslo projektai”, Elinta Motors managed to establish cooperation ties with Lithuanian science and research institutions in order to conduct joint research of six-phase motors and controllers.
In addition, the project is highly relevant due to the fact that it responds to the challenges related to electric vehicles and sustainable mobility as it will allow to further develop electricity-driven commercial transportation.
In addition, the project is highly relevant due to the fact that it responds to the challenges related to electric vehicles and sustainable mobility as it will allow to further develop electricity-driven commercial transportation.
Further information
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Good practice owner
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Organisation
Elinta Motors Ltd
Lithuania
Contact
Expert