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Hitachi - Inspire the Next

HIAMS in the U.S.A.

With the aim of creating a sustainable society, vehicle fuel economy standards are becoming progressively tighter year by year in order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It is forecast that the proportion of the total market accounted for by electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will grow significantly by 2020. HEVs have been commercialized in a variety of forms. Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. draws on its strengths in power electronics to supply inverters that suit diverse customer requirements.

Features

  • High-power-density with low thermal resistance
  • High Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance to minimize the radiation of electromagnetic noise
  • Ease of installation & ease of vehicle packaging (small size and light weight)
  • Lower weight improves gas mileage (fuel-efficient and electric power saving) and Vehicle weight
  • Failsafe functions in the event of a fault
  • Long life with respect to thermal fatigue
  • Excellent water and dust proofing
  • Insulation performance at high altitude
  • Efficient cooling with low pressure loss
  • Satisfy at a low cost

Inverter for HEV/PHEV

Electronics and Digital Media Products Second-generation inverter
(2 motors)

Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. is in production on a "hybrid" vehicle. Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc.’s latest inverter that utilizes the technologies described above for higher density. Second-generation inverters used modules with single-sided direct cooling and were able to drive two motors.




Electronics and Digital Media Products Third-generation inverter
(1 motor) Standard inverter

The third-generation models use modules with double-sided direct cooling and feature a power density of 35 kW/L, 5.6 times that of first-generation models.




Double-sided Direct-cooling Power Module

Electronics and Digital Media Products

The thermal resistance of the power modules is improved at the expense of increasing the pressure loss in the cooling water channels. As this increases the resistance to water flow in the channels, the optimal point can be selected based on the cooling capacity. The power modules with double-sided direct cooling have approximately 35% better thermal resistance and providing a performance improvement of 30% or more in terms of current flow assuming use of power devices with the same chip size. Improvements in the performance of modules with double-sided direct cooling mean less rise in junction temperature, and because the inverter is able to operate with the cooling water at a higher temperature.

Inverter for HEV/PHEV/EV

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