Classical road transport using fossil fuels in internal combustion engines (ICE) is one of the largest polluters, currently generating about 60 % of the total emissions released into the atmosphere from human activity. Almost 40% of these emissions are generated by light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Thus, electrification of heavy-duty vehicles is a promising strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and to conribute achieving EU efforts against climate change. However, heavy-duty vehicles electrification still faces important technical challenges in terms of performance, efficiency, reliability, cost-effectiveness and environmetal impact.
RHODAS project aims to improve the efficiency of electric Integrated Motor Drive (IMD) powertrains for multiple wheel drive architectures for heavy-duty long-haul vehicles, while reducing their size and cost by using novel semiconductor materials, optimal thermal management strategies and disruptive topologies of power converters in a modular approach. Also improved resilience is achieved thanks to the application of intelligent control and diagnostics techniques, as well as (datadriven) predictive maintenance of the powertrain system and components. In addition, relevant environmental, social and economic issues are considered from the design, to facilitate scalability while ensuring sustainability, circularity and social acceptance.
RHODAS project will last for a total of 42 months, and the different activities are divided in 7 workpackages covering the different technical aspects (definition of specifications, technological research & development, validation, management, and dissemination). A detailed management methodology has been also defined, allowing effective collaboration between all partners, ensuring proper coordination between the different tasks, and taking into account potential risks.
As a result of these activities, the RHODAS project will deliver a number of exploitable results that will contribute to enable the electrification of heavy-duty electric vehicles, such as:
- Innovative electric IMD Powertrain
- High power/high efficiency traction power converters
- Intelligent active gate drivers
- High voltage/high power PMSM traction motor
- Digital twins of electric powertrains for holistic modelling and simulation
Finally, the project will also contribute to scientific progress by disseminating non-confidential results following the principles of Open Science. Likewise, data generated during the project will be stored under the basis of FAIR principles, allowing its reutilization in future projects and, thus, contributing to foster european R&D capabilities.
