Power management company Eaton will display its Vehicle Group's portfolio of electric vehicle solutions for commercial vehicles Sept. 20-25 at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, Germany, according to a company press release.
“We are helping our customers around the globe with technologies that solve some of the toughest challenges throughout the electrified vehicle (EV) ecosystem,” said Scott Adams, president of Eaton’s eMobility business. “Eaton provides a vast portfolio of EV technologies for full battery electric, fuel cell, and hybrid commercial vehicles, as well as EV charging infrastructure solutions.”
Flex Power Distribution Unit powers commercial electric vehicles
Eaton’s eMobility business offers a new Flex Power Distribution Unit (PDU) for high-voltage commercial electric vehicles (CEVs) that is designed to handle multiple load requirements.
The Flex PDU integrates Eaton’s Breaktor circuit protection technology, which aims to improve vehicle safety and protect components from any level of overcurrent condition more effectively than traditional circuit protection methods. The Breaktor circuit protection solution is resettable like a circuit breaker, enabling reactivation of the device following a functionality check in an effort to reduce cost for both the OEM and consumer.
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The Flex PDU also leverages sealed and corrosion-resistant terminals and connectors from Royal Power Solutions, a power distribution and transmission solutions company that Eaton acquired earlier this year. Eaton’s Bussmann series fuses are also integrated to meet the requirements for use in the latest high-powered electrified vehicles with ratings up to 1,000 volts of direct current (VDC) and 600 amps.
Eaton’s Flex PDU is designed to protect vital components and occupants. It also provides diagnostic information, including where the most power is being consumed, to maximize performance and efficiency. The integrated and optimized design reduces the number of components, lessening complexity, according to the press release.
Gearing up to improve EV performance and range
Eaton’s new 4-speed transmissions are designed to improve performance on grades and acceleration for electrified commercial vehicles while offering more flexible gear ratios compared to competitive technologies. The 4-speed transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty CEVs are designed to improve system efficiency, enabling longer vehicle range and battery life.
“We supply transmissions for multiple global commercial vehicle manufacturers, and many more are interested,” said Scott Adams, president of Eaton’s eMobility business. “With decades of experience, we continue to build on our heritage as a top supplier of commercial vehicle transmissions.”
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DC-DC converters available in a range of power configurations
Eaton recently introduced a 48-volt DC-DC converter to power accessories such as antilock brakes and lighting for commercial vehicles with 48-volt electrical systems. Eaton’s DC-DC converters can operate in ambient temperatures up to 85 degrees Celsius and boast 97% design efficiency.
Eaton’s DC-DC converter portfolio covers a spectrum of power requirements, ranging from low- to high-voltage systems, depending on customer specifications. The converters can be tuned for particular duty cycles via their advanced digital control architecture, enabling flexible control modes through firmware adaptation, according to the press release.
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Green Motion acquisition expands Eaton’s vehicle charging capabilities
In March 2021, Eaton acquired Switzerland-based Green Motion SA, a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicle charging hardware and related software. Eaton’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure expertise includes the production and operation of charging stations, designing management software for charging networks, and serving as an electric mobility service provider.
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‘Buildings as a Grid’ strategy expands charging possibilities
Many workplaces host vehicle fleets, such as cars for the salesforce and vans for deliveries. Fleet managers switching to EVs, either now or in the future, will want to electrify their fleet while ensuring business continuity. Eaton’s “Buildings as a Grid” approach aims to help fleet managers devise an EV charging strategy that is fast to implement, cybersecure, and scalable so that they can add more EV charging capacity when needed.
The strategy may include EV charging infrastructure at their site or depot, on-site renewables like solar panels on buildings, and options for fleet drivers to charge at home and when they are traveling. Eaton’s digital and physical infrastructure aims to transform a workplace or depot into an energy hub, and because it is a gateway to electrifying the entire functionality of the site, it can also be an investment in the energy transition.
