INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE

Automakers, consumers and government regulators are turning towards electric vehicles (EVs) to help reduce fossil fuel usage and minimize CO₂ emissions.

Tula’s control strategies can be applied to EV powertrains to improve efficiency and reduce costs

Dynamic Motor Drive, or DMD™ applies Tula’s pulse density controls approach to electric motors and inverters, improving low-load efficiency by up to 9%.

What is DMD?

Tula’s fundamental controls philosophy is to eliminate efficiency losses by operating engines and motors always at their optimal efficiency point – their sweet spot – on an intermittent basis.

DMD uses pulses of motor operation at high motor efficiency to deliver requested torque. By modulating torque in this manner, the motor operates at its “sweet spot”, minimizing efficiency losses.

Benefits of DMD

Reduced Battery Costs

Improved powertrain efficiency reduces the need for expensive batteries and/or increases the range of the vehicle.

Reduced Motor Costs

DMD improves the efficiency of electric motors without requiring expensive rare earth materials. DMD controls allow Synchronous Reluctance Motors (SRM) to operate at efficiencies close to permanent magnet motors (IPMs) at about half the cost.

Efficient Use of Inverter

DMD’s pulse control has an efficiency benefit to the inverter. A 2% efficiency improvement in the inverter translates to a close to 4% efficiency in the whole system.

Software Only Solutions

DMD works with conventional motor architectures and is implemented through software only.

EV’s Growing Market Share

Auto manufacturers are placing a strong emphasis on the emerging EV markets, and the technologies that support efficiency and cost management of the EV powertrain system.

From a relatively low current market share in the U.S. of 1.5%, EVs (including plug-in hybrids) are expected to grow substantially in the years and decades to come.