HighScape proposes a set of research and innovation activities to develop, test and validate innovative next-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) solutions that can only be achieved through recent wide bandgap (WBG) technologies. Focused on BEV architectures with distributed multiple wheel drives, and, specifically, in-wheel powertrains, HighScape will explore the feasibility of a family of highly efficient, integrated, compact, cost-effective, scalable and modular power electronics components and systems, including integrated traction inverters, on-board chargers, DC/DC converters, and electric drives for auxiliaries and actuators. The proposed solutions will achieve automotive quality levels with robust and reliable functionalities and materials, which will be assessed and validated on test rigs and on two differently sized BEV prototypes carried over from previous European initiatives. The project will result in: i) component integration at a level hitherto impossible, e.g. with the incorporation of the WBG traction inverters within the in-wheel machines to achieve zero footprint of the electric powertrain on the sprung mass; the functional integration of the traction inverter with the on-board charger, and the incorporation of the latter and the DC/DC converters within the battery pack; and the implementation of multi-motor and fault-tolerant inverter solutions for the auxiliaries and chassis actuators; ii) novel solutions, including the implementation of reconfigurable winding topologies of the drive, as well as integrated and predictive thermal management at the vehicle level, with the adoption of phase changing materials within the power electronics components; iii) the achievement and demonstration of significantly higher levels of power density, specific power and energy efficiency for the resulting power electronics systems and related drives; iv) major cost reductions with respect to the current state-of-the-art, thanks to the dual use of parts, subsystem modularity, and model-based design to eliminate overengineering; and v) increased dependability and reliability of the power electronics systems, enabled by design and intelligent predictive health monitoring algorithms.
