BorgWarner iDM for electric propulsion

BorgWarner’s eAxle iDM takes electric propulsion to a new level

BorgWarner’s drive modules aim to simplify the design of future pure electric drives. While the forerunner – the electric drive module (eDM) – has already entered serial production, the fully integrated drive module (iDM) featuring specially developed power electronics is expected to follow as the next logical step.

The product family is available in three different versions (iDM XS, iDM S, iDM M). It is easy to integrate them at the front or the rear axle of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles depending on the architecture and the application. Alongside pure electric vehicles, BorgWarner’s solution is also suitable for P4 hybrid vehicles, where the motor is located at the rear axle of the front-wheel-drive vehicle. The solution integrates power electronics with an advanced transmission system and drive motor technology featuring a bar wound stator solution to form a compact package.

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Stefan Demmerle, President and General Manager, BorgWarner PowerDrive Systems, said: «With the iDM, BorgWarner delivers a product family of highly integrated propulsion solutions to drive our customers’ hybrid and electric vehicles. At the same time, we are strengthening our position as the supplier of choice for hybrid and pure electric propulsion solutions. We also deliver key elements for electric vehicles: the electric motor, the transmission, the power electronics and the thermal management system. Our comprehensive portfolio also makes us a product leader in clean technology solutions and a strong partner for automakers worldwide as they move toward a cleaner and more environmentally friendly future».

A look at the main features…

The latest component of the iDM allows a small package, low complexity and minimum losses. In addition, it offers full software functionality with an option for the high-level control of vehicle dynamics and energy management. The software architecture is easy to adapt to common platforms like Autosar. To handle the increasing volume of data exchange, BorgWarner’s power electronics can operate with a CAN or a CAN FD bus.

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In general, the key benefits of the iDM include its scalable and modular architecture and the wide range of gear ratios and electric motor sizes. This makes it flexibly adaptable to customer demands. Operating at 250 to 450 volts of direct current (VDC), the iDM has power densities ranging from 90 kW to 160 kW and 2,500 Nm to 3,800 Nm of torque.

The transmission technology offers smooth and quiet operation. All components used in the iDM module are part of BorgWarner’s portfolio of different technologies and are also available as stand-alone solutions.