Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The proposed collaborative project among the University of Windsor, Ford Motor Company of Canada, D&V Electronics, CanmetMATERIALS, University of British Columbia, and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is expected to improve the automobile's fuel economy and overall performance through advanced powertrain components and energy storage. The objective of this project is to conduct collaborative research in the areas that are of strategic importance to the industrial partners, Ford and D&V Electronics, including: electric machine; drives; energy storage systems; and electric powertrain component tester. This research project will address the most challenging obstacles in the areas of materials research and structural design of electric machines, multi-level drives and fault tolerant control strategies, loss and fault testing methods and supercapacitor based energy storage systems for industrial partners Ford and D&V Electronics, which will lead to significant improvements in electrified vehicle traction drive technology. The research and development performed will be particularly aimed at developing a superior performance axial-flux motor and drive, energy efficient supercapacitor based energy storage system and next generation advanced electric power train component tester that can exclusively determine machine losses and faults. Over a period of 5 years, 9 MASc and 12 PhD students and 1 research engineer will be trained. On a macro level, the outcome of this project will lead to: implementable product and process solutions to improve vehicle drivetrain efficiency and performance; reduce reliance on fossil fuels; reduce deleterious emissions of CO2 and smog; increase use of clean energy sources; improve and assist EV manufacturing technologies; extend the range of electric vehicles; and will increase market acceptance of electric vehicles in Canada and abroad.