Novel control method enabling the adaptability of multi-phase inverters for electric vehicles

This paper presents a novel control method for inverters for electric vehicles which makes the adaption of the inverter's ampacity to the current demand of the electric machine possible. Thus one inverter can be used for several machines with different power demands and phase currents, yet maintaining an optimal efficiency. This is achieved by controlling the transistors used for one phase, which are connected in parallel, individually thus varying the active chip area. As a result inverter costs are lowered as a redesign of the inverter for each machine is no longer necessary. Furthermore, production costs abate through larger numbers in the production of power electronics. Further advantages, e.g. an improvement in efficiency and cost reductions of other components are discussed.