IC chips in Hybrid, electric & powertrain systems You Should Know

Image of hybrid vehicle powertrain source The National Academies Press

Hybrid and electric vehicles have become more popular in recent years. Auto manufacturers have been increasingly embracing powertrain electrification and hybridization.  Hybrid electric vehicles are designed to utilize the power of internal combustion engines as well as electric motors. These motors derive their power directly from the batteries.

Hybrid electric vehicles have become popular mainly because of their energy-saving property. This is possible because the vehicle does not fully depend on power from the combustion engine. Instead, some of it is derived from the batteries.  The extra electric power also makes it possible for the auto manufacturers to use smaller engines on the vehicles, a key factor that also helps to save on the cost of energy combustion by the ICE.

Like with any electronic application, the hybrid electric powertrain can deliver its functionalities and performance thanks to the integrated circuits. Different types of IC chips are used for implementing different functionalities on the powertrains.

In this article, we are going to review some of the top IC chips in hybrid electric powertrains. We will review what they do and their significance on the vehicle.

Components of hybrid electric vehicle powertrain

Before we look at the specific IC chips that are used in hybrid vehicles, we must review the key components that make up the powertrains of hybrid electric vehicles. From this information, you will be in a perfect place to know which IC chip is used on which component.

· Auxiliary battery: This is a battery that is specifically designed for starting the car’s engine and at the same time running all the electronics and car accessories. It provides the initial power boost that is needed to run the car from point A to B.

· Traction battery pack: Also known as electric vehicle battery (EVB), a traction battery pack is specifically designed to power electric motors. They have higher voltage than the auxiliary batteries  and this is mainly because of the work that they do, which is to power electric motors. Traction battery packs derive their power from the vehicle’s charging system. Different hybrid vehicles have different charging systems.

· Electric motor: The electric motor is the main load that converts electric energy from the battery pack to mechanical energy. The motor is used for driving a vehicle’s wheels. Some hybrid electric vehicle power trains use electric motors for the generation of electric energy.

· Electric generator: This component is used for generating electric energy that is used for driving a hybrid electric vehicle’s powertrain. Most vehicles generate energy from the rotating wheels using the regenerative braking system The generated energy is then transferred directly to the traction battery pack.

· Power converters: Hybrid electric vehicle power trains have DC-DC converters that convert high-voltage DC power from the traction battery pack to low-voltage DC power that is needed for running electric motors.

· Thermal system: Heat is one of the byproducts of energy conversion and transfer.  Thermal management systems are used for regulating heat in the hybrid electric vehicle powertrains. They help to minimize cases and incidences of overheating in the system.

· Internal combustion engine: This is the traditional engine that uses engine or gas to drive the vehicle. The auxiliary battery supplies the power that is needed to start the engine through a spark plug.

· Power electronics controller: This is the component that controls and manages all the electrical energy in the vehicle. Some energy is derived from the battery pack while others from the auxiliary battery. The torque and acceleration functions are controlled by the power electronics.

IC chips in hybrid electric vehicles powertrain

Here are some of the most common integrated circuits that are used in hybrid electric vehicle powertrains:

· Power management ICs (PMICs): These are semiconductor chips that are mainly used for implementing power management functions on hybrid electric vehicle power trains. On hybrid electric vehicle power trains, you will find these chips on the DC/DC converters.

· Battery management ICs (BMS):  As we have seen, hybrid electric vehicles have traction battery packs that are used for battery management. BMS controls the charging process and also monitors the state of the traction battery. Through the BMS, you can tell the capacity of the battery that is being charged.

· Motor control IC: Since the electric motor is among the key components of a hybrid vehicle power train, it is only logical that the system should have motor control IC. It controls the behavior of the motor drive that is also used for driving the wheel.

· Microcontroller IC: This IC chip manages and controls all the electronics in a hybrid elect vehicle powertrain. It is the brain of the electric system in the vehicle. Whether it is motor control, battery management, data processing, or power management, the chip does these and many other similar functions.

· Temperature IC sensors: Thermal management is one of the important components of hybrid electric vehicle powertrains. At the core of thermal management are temperature sensors. They record all the important data about the temperature of the hybrid system.

Conclusion

 Are you in the field of automotive? Whether you are involved in the manufacturing of vehicles or repairing cars, there is a high chance that you have encountered hybrid electric cars.

Knowing the key components of our car is something that you should consider urgent and necessary. Integrated circuits are among the key components of the hybrid vehicle that you should know. This is because no matter what you will be doing on the car’s powertrain, there is a high chance that you will be interacting with semiconductor chips regularly.

Now that you have full information on all the IC chips in hybrid electric powertrains, you are in a perfect position to handle all the critical car issues perfectly. One of the decisions that you will make is in the buying of integrated circuits.

When it comes to purchasing integrated circuits for hybrid electric vehicle powertrains, ensure that you choose reputable and reliable IC chip suppliers.  This is where ICRFQ comes in. We are a reputable IC supplier in China. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, we have what it takes to deliver the right products. Talk to us and we will be glad to partner with you in delivering the right integrated circuits.