Flexible test and demonstration vehicle platform for electric drivetrain power electronics

This paper presents the design and implementation of an experimental electric vehicle platform. The platform is intended for demonstrating and testing highly integrated power electronics drivetrain components in an actual vehicle, rather than just in laboratory and test bed environments. Most of these components were created in earlier research projects. The high voltage network topology is flexible enough to incorporate future developments and additional power electronics systems. A central vehicle control unit routes the signal flow between the vehicle's electronic control units. It also controls the interaction of the drivetrain power electronics systems. Adding and exchanging devices is supported by the modular design of the vehicle control unit software. Special attention is given to the battery system, which was purposely designed for the vehicle platform.