January 3 2018

Bi-directional charger inverter : Combining multiple functionalities into one box

Since the inception of electric vehicles, chargers have played a key role recharging the battery and ensuring that it is always operating safely and maintained in a good condition to deliver the best performance. Chargers, vehicles and batteries were all simple enough in the early stages of the technology, but as battery systems and charging safety requirements have become more complex, the need for more sophisticated charging solutions has emerged. Electrification of commercial vehicles accelerated the transition from alternator-powered auxiliaries,…
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October 18 2017

4 new powertrain options available with increased performances

TM4 is adding 4 new electric powertrain options with increased performance within its SUMO family of products: SUMO HD HV3500-9P SUMO MD HV1800-3P SUMO MD HV2200-3P SUMO MD HV2400-6P   These new motor and inverter combinations have been optimized in terms of power, torque and speed. Within the SUMO HD line, the new SUMO HD HV3500 allows up to 350 kW of peak power, an increase of over 100 kW compared to the most powerful system already offered by TM4.…
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October 17 2017

Why hybrid when we have full electric?

Before all-electric vehicles make sense for all types of applications and markets, hybrids solutions will still act as stepping stones to reduce CO2 emissions and ramp-up the production of EV components like batteries, electric motors and power electronics.

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September 22 2017

The SUMO powertrain systems family: A direct drive to success

TM4 introduced its first SUMO powertrain system in the market during the summer of 2012, which means that this family of products is now entering its fifth year of deployment in dozens of vehicles applications. With more than 75 million kilometers of real road driving and no design-related failures, the technical and commercial success of this product family is evident. More importantly, it helped TM4 establish itself as a global supplier of electrified commercial vehicle drivetrains, both by expanding its…
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July 19 2017

How Formula E acts as a catalyst for the adoption of electric vehicles

The finale of the third season of Formula E happens next week in Montreal, in our backyard. On July 29 and 30, 2017, the races will take place on an urban circuit of 2.5 km long and will bring together the main Formula E teams and the best drivers. For most spectators, formula E is all about the entertainment. For us, it’s a laboratory.   Shaping the future of mobility In racing, every component of the car need to be…
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June 25 2017

Quebec PHEV initiave underway

All public transit authorities in the province of Québec, Canada, have declared their intention to fully electrify their fleet by 2025, but currently, the electric infrastructure for public transportation is either inexistent or limited. In order to offer a more flexible solution to the transit authorities, a new consortium formed by Dana TM4 Inc., Cummins and the Société de Transport de Laval (STL) will develop, assemble and demonstrate a new and more efficient plug-in hybrid drivetrain for heavy vehicles. This new plug-in solution is an intermediate step between existing hybrid and EV technologies. The proposed solution will allow transit authorities progressive electrification of their bus fleet according to their recharging infrastructure and routes.

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November 28 2016

Are Electric Vehicles Better for the Environment than Gas-Powered Ones?

Hydro-Québec, TM4’s shareholder, recently made public a report comparing the complete life-cycle of an electric vehicle vs a gas-powered vehicle in the province of Québec. It makes quite clear that an electric vehicle powered by Québec’s electricity is more environmentally friendly than a conventional vehicle over their respective life cycles (including the manufacturing of components and batteries, transportation from the plant to the user, usage of the vehicle and end of life).

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October 14 2016

5 advantages of a direct-drive motor

TM4 offers its SUMO direct-drive powertrains for the bus and commercial vehicle markets. They represent the best compromise between efficiency and simplicity for our customers looking to electrify their commercial vehicle platforms. But why did TM4 come up with this design choice, you  may ask? When TM4 first started to develop motor and inverter systems for the commercial vehicle market, our original idea, as a company mainly involved in automotive projects, was to design a high RPM and high power…
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August 29 2016

Increasing Efficiency of Electric Vehicle Powertrain using IGBT inverters

Ultimately, one of the key to being able to optimize the hardware design and the control software of inverters acting as motor controllers is having an in depth knowledge of the design of electric motors. It is one thing to ensure that electric motors and inverters not only have the highest possible efficiency as standalone products, but to design a truly efficient powertrain system, the challenge is keeping the combined efficiency of these components at the highest level possible.

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July 19 2016

5 benefits of multi-phase motors and inverters

One question our sales representatives often get is related to Dana TM4’s multi-phase approach; what advantages do 6- and 9-phase electric powertrains provide in comparison with more traditional three-phase systems? Let’s take a look at the top 5 benefits multi-phase systems can offer.

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May 17 2016

10 things to consider when choosing an electric motor

Selecting the right electric motor to fit a particular vehicle isn’t always straightforward. There are so many variables to consider that it can be difficult to know where to start. Given the price of batteries and electric motors, in order to find the most economical solution, you should look for a powertrain that will fit required vehicle performances as close as possible. In this article, we will overview 10 basic questions that you need to answer before attempting to find…
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May 17 2016

Electric motor topologies 101

Electric motors have been around since the 19th century and are used in a diversity of applications. They can be found anywhere, from small toys and electronics up to electric vehicles and industrial applications. Electric motors for electric vehicles are broadly classified into two categories: ASYNCHRONOUS MOTORS SYNCHRONOUS MOTORS   The choice of a traction motor technology for an electric vehicle is crucial for the design of the whole system. Many criterions such as efficiency, cost, reliability and power density must…
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