Tesla has a relatively large proportion of self-research in the three aspects of electricity, focusing on the development of power battery cells and battery thermal management; in terms of power supply, it uses home charging piles + self-built charging stations.
Summary of Tesla's electrification path
Compared with mainstream new power car companies, Tesla practices all-round self-development of three electric core technologies, and its power battery cells, BMS (battery management system), motors, and electronic control technologies lead the development of the industry.
Ideal Automobile is the first to deploy a high-voltage pure electric platform, and adheres to the technology route of extended range; Wei self-develops cutting-edge technologies such as BMS and motor electronic control.
Large Cylindrical Battery
Tesla's large cylindrical battery has the advantages of high energy density, safety and reliability. The three generations of batteries have evolved from 18650 to 21700 and then to 4680.
Tesla's large cylindrical battery
Different from square batteries and pouch batteries, Tesla has launched an industry-unique large cylindrical battery. The three generations of batteries have evolved from 18650, to 21700, and then to 4680 models. constantly improving.
Battery Management System (BMS)
The number of Tesla battery cells is more than ten times that of the BMW and Roewe solutions, but the detection voltage and temperature are 1/2 or even lower than the two, reflecting the advantages of Tesla's BMS.
Tesla's BMS
Tesla's self-developed BMS system design adopts a master-slave architecture. The master controller (BMU) is responsible for high voltage, insulation test, high voltage interlock, contactor control, external communication and other functions, and the slave controller (BMB) is responsible for the monomer voltage, Temperature test and report to BMU.
CTC technology
After Tesla models adopt CTC technology, the cruising range has been greatly improved, and the battery production cost and capital investment per kWh have also been effectively reduced.
Tesla's CTC technology
Tesla's CTC technology leads the manufacturing revolution in the automotive industry. CTC grouping technology is matched with 4680 batteries. The overall structure eliminates the battery pack and directly integrates the batteries into the vehicle body, which increases the cruising range of the vehicle by 14%, reduces the unit production cost of the battery by 7%, and reduces the unit production input of the battery by 8%. At the same time, it can effectively reduce the weight of the vehicle body and improve the performance of the vehicle.
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
The permanent magnet synchronous motor can provide strong and stable power support for the car, and Tesla's new model Model 3 has already begun to use it.
Tesla's "induction + permanent magnet drive motor" matching scheme
The front axle of the Tesla Model 3 still uses an AC asynchronous motor, while the rear axle uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Compared with AC asynchronous motors, permanent magnet synchronous motors have more compact dimensions, high operating efficiency, longer battery life, and are easier to control.
In Model Y, Tesla continues to use the permanent magnet synchronous motor solution. The combination scheme of induction + permanent magnet drive motor can make better use of the characteristics of the high-efficiency zone of the induction motor at high speed and the high-efficiency zone of the permanent magnet motor at low speed, and complement the efficiency of the two working areas.
Flat wire motor
The advantages of flat-wire motors are higher power density and lower cost. From Model 3 to Model Y, Tesla has completed the switch from round-wire motors to flat-wire motors.
Tesla's Flat Wire Motor Solution
Tesla has 5 models of drive motors, including 3 round wire motors and 2 flat wire motors. Compared with round wire motors, flat wire motors have a nearly 30% increase in slot fill rate, which can reduce the size of the motor, and the wide cross-section reduces the temperature rise of the windings by 17.5%, allowing the motor to output higher power, effectively reducing material costs and power density.
When Model Y is equipped with a flat wire motor, the motor volume and power density are optimized. Under the demonstration effect of Tesla, car companies such as BYD, Volkswagen, Weilai, and Ideal have all begun to use flat wire motors.
Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices
Tesla is the first automaker to use SiC materials in production. Model 3 has begun to use SiC power devices, driving SiC to open the road to commercial application in automobiles.
Tesla uses SiC power devices
The main inverter of Tesla Model 3 uses SiC power devices, which significantly increases the power conversion efficiency and increases the cruising range by 5-10%. Compared with silicon-based materials, SiC has the advantages of high pressure resistance, high-speed operation, and fast heat transfer rate. Tesla models use SiC power devices, boosting the position of SiC chips in the electric vehicle supply chain.
