Traction inverter testing

Traction inverter testing

Solutions for traction inverter testing

The traction inverter is a vital element in the electric drivetrain that takes the DC electrical power from the battery pack and delivers AC power to the motor. It is responsible for accurately, safely and efficiently controlling the motor, thereby improving driving range, responsiveness, smoothness, traction and handling.

Traction inverter designers face numerous challenges, such as minimizing switching losses, maximizing thermal efficiency and ensuring EMI compliance when using wide-bandgap, high voltage semiconductors. These challenges can be better addressed with a robust test approach using optimum equipment.

Your EV inverter testing challenges

The traction inverter consists of three fundamental components:

  • DC-DC boost converter
  • DC-Link capacitor
  • DC-AC inverter

Each component and the overall module face a range of design challenges, including:

  • Minimizing switching losses and maximizing thermal efficiency
  • Verifying stability under different loads and environmental conditions
  • Ensuring maximum efficiency at high switching frequencies and multiple output voltages
  • Ensuring correct switch timings to verify control algorithms
  • Achieving EMI compliance when using new wide-bandgap semiconductors

High performance solutions for EV inverter testing

Rohde & Schwarz offers a comprehensive solution portfolio for traction inverter testing:

  • Fast-sampling multi-channel oscilloscopes featuring a multitude of test applications from RF switching analysis and power efficiency optimization to gate driver characterization and power integrity
  • Trigger and decode of CAN, LIN and Ethernet protocols, enabling capture and identification of digital errors
  • High-precision impedance analysis for measuring ESL to nH and ESR to µOhm over a wide frequency range with excellent repeatability
  • Double-pulse tester system with PE Systems, able to characterize high voltage Si, SiC and GaN semiconductors
  • Fast and convenient EMI debugging using oscilloscope and probes
  • Isolated probing system with exceptional common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) delivering superior performance in environments with high electromagnetic interference

Benefits of our EV inverter test solutions

  • Versatility of multi channel, high performance oscilloscopes and probes reduce costs
  • Early validation with accurate impedance analyzers minimizes risk of DC link capacitor overheating and voltage spikes
  • Early identification of inefficiencies allows for fast optimization

Do you have any questions?

Products for traction inverter testing

MXO 5 oscilloscope

Key facts:

  • 8 channels with 2 GHz bandwidth
  • World’s fastest oscilloscope with > 4.5 million wfms/s
  • Industry-leading architecture with 18-bit vertical resolution

Product information

Traction inverter testing content on Knowledge+

Webinar: Traction inverter testing, verification and debugging for optimized efficiency

Discover a holistic testing approach can optimize traction inverter efficiency.

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