Are you curious about why new energy vehicles can run fast on the road? Why can they achieve ultra-long battery life and intelligent driving? The answer lies in its unique parts! Do you know what does the “internal organs” of new energy vehicles look like? Today, let’s unveil the mystery of new energy vehicle parts and see what “black technology” it hides compared to traditional fuel vehicles!
- Core responsibility: three-electric system
The core of new energy vehicles is the “three-electric system”, which is like the heart, muscle and brain of the car, and none of them can be missing!
Power battery: source of energy
The function of the power battery is to store electrical energy and provide power for the motor, which can be called the “energy bank” of new energy vehicles. At present, lithium-ion batteries are the mainstream, among which lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary lithium batteries (NCM/NCA) are the most common. The former wins in low cost and high safety, while the latter has better energy density. As the future direction, solid-state batteries have higher energy density and safety, which makes people full of expectations! The key indicators for measuring power batteries are energy density, cycle life and fast charging capability. The higher the value, the better the performance.
Drive motor: power engine
The drive motor is responsible for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the vehicle forward. It is the “power engine” of the car. Permanent magnet synchronous motors have become the first choice for passenger cars due to their high efficiency and small size; asynchronous induction motors have outstanding performance in high-speed performance and are often used in high-performance models, such as Tesla Model S. Power, torque and speed are important parameters for measuring motor performance, which determine the power and speed of the car.
Electronic control system: smart center
The electronic control system is the “smart center” of new energy vehicles, controlling motor output, energy distribution and high-voltage management of the whole vehicle. Among them, the motor controller (MCU) adjusts the motor speed and torque; the vehicle controller (VCU) is the “brain” of the vehicle and coordinates the operation of various systems; the battery management system (BMS) monitors the battery status in real time, balances the battery cells, prevents overcharging and over-discharging, and protects battery safety. - Charging “artifact”: charging system
If you want new energy vehicles to “revive” with full blood, the charging system is essential!
The onboard charger (OBC) can convert AC power into DC power to charge the battery, and the power is generally between 3.3kW and 22kW. The DC fast charging interface is even more powerful. It directly connects to high-voltage DC power, bypassing the OBC, and can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes, greatly saving charging time. In addition, there are different standards for charging guns and cables, such as the national standard (GB/T), the European standard (CCS), the American standard (SAE), etc. Don’t choose the wrong one when using it! - Electricity “magician”: power electronic components
Power electronic components are like a group of “magicians”, allowing electrical energy to be freely converted between different forms.
The inverter can convert the DC power of the battery into AC power for use in the power supply machine, and can also convert it in reverse when energy is recovered; the DC-DC converter reduces the DC power of the high-voltage battery to power low-voltage systems such as lights and instruments; ** High-voltage power distribution box (PDU) ** is responsible for distributing high-voltage power so that components such as motors and air conditioners can be “fully charged”. - Temperature “guardian”: thermal management system
Batteries are also afraid of heat and cold? Thermal management system to protect!
The battery cooling/heating system is the “exclusive air conditioner” of the battery. Liquid cooling is the current mainstream method, which maintains the battery temperature by circulating coolant. BYD Blade Battery adopts this technology; air cooling has lower cost, but slightly lower efficiency, and is more common in early models. Heat pump air conditioner is a “magic weapon” in winter. It can heat efficiently, replace traditional PTC heaters, and reduce winter energy consumption. Tesla Model Y is equipped with heat pump air conditioner. - Traditional “improver”: traditional vehicle adaptation components
New energy vehicles do not completely abandon tradition, but have “improved and upgraded” some components.
The reducer replaces the traditional gearbox. Due to the high speed characteristics of the motor, a single speed ratio design is mostly used. The brake energy recovery system is super powerful. When braking, the motor reverses and converts kinetic energy into electrical energy to recharge the battery, which can increase the endurance by 10% – 20%! In terms of body and chassis, a large number of lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy and carbon fiber are used to offset the weight of the battery, making the car run faster and more stable. - Smart “brain”: intelligent and connected components
The intelligent experience of new energy vehicles is inseparable from these components!
The in-vehicle infotainment system has a large screen, voice interaction and OTA upgrade functions. Like Weilai’s NOMI, it is like a caring assistant. Autonomous driving sensors include cameras, millimeter-wave radars, lidars, etc., which provide “eyes” and “perception” for autonomous driving. The V2X communication module is even more powerful, supporting energy interaction between vehicle and grid (V2G) and vehicle and home (V2H). In the future, the car may become a “mobile power source” for the family! - Other “little experts”: important components
In addition to the above components, these “little experts” are also indispensable!
The high-voltage wiring harness is responsible for transmitting high-voltage current and needs to meet the requirements of high temperature resistance and shielding interference; the PTC heater can provide warm air in the car, but it consumes a lot of power and is gradually being replaced by heat pumps; the electric compressor is directly powered by the high-voltage battery to drive the air conditioning refrigeration.
The core technology of new energy vehicles continues to innovate around the “three electrics”, while improving energy efficiency and user experience through intelligence and thermal management optimization. As technology develops, components will be further integrated, such as CTP battery technology and electric drive three-in-one system. In the future, it may evolve to a higher voltage platform (such as 800V) to achieve ultra-fast charging and lower energy consumption!
Through the introduction of this article, now you know what does the “internal organs” of new energy vehicles look like, right?
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