Delta Introduces Hybrid Electric Vehicle Propulsion System

Delta electronics, the world's largest manufacturer of power-supply systems, is casting eager eyes on the rapidly developing electric vehicle (EV) business. Delta expects electric vehicles to provide much of its profit in years to come.

The company recently marked its entry into the EV-related industry by introducing a new gas-electric hybrid propulsion system and announcing that it has tied up with more than 10 automakers in China, Europe, and the United States for the joint development of power management systems. These systems are expected to contribute over NT$10 billion (US$307.7 million at NT$32.5:US$1) over the next three years.

Delta vice president and CEO Yancey Hai said that commercialized hybrid electric vehicles would be equipped with Delta's propulsion system within two years. He went on to explain that his company, unlike other electronic companies, has tapped into the automotive electronics sector by integrating existing automation, motor, servomotor, and electrical electronics technologies in the development of its own hybrid propulsion system.

Hai proudly claimed that his is the first gas-electric hybrid system to be developed by a Taiwanese electronics company. The design of his system, he said, includes batteries, power inverter, power control unit, traction motor, and vehicle control unit. A test vehicle using the system is now undergoing road tests.

"At Delta Electronics," he commented, "our business philosophy is based on caring for the environment, saving energy, and taking care of our green Earth. Carbon emissions reduction is an important goal for our products. As supplies of fossil fuels are drying up, the coming energy crisis makes the development of alternative energy sources the most important issue facing us today."

"Currently, all of the world's car makers are looking at electric or hybrid propulsion vehicles. As Delta has always been a leading provider of power management and automation solutions, this gives us an advantage when it comes to the design and manufacturing of electric vehicle propulsion systems. This is why we are now targeting this sector. We believe that this emerging energy-saving concept will gain international acceptance just as the power industry has."

Gas Sipper

Delta's test vehicle is based on an old BMW chassis, with the engine and transmission removed and replaced by the company's new propulsion system. The system includes a regular internal combustion engine that is used not for propulsion but only to charge the 18kW lithium-ion batteries. Actual road tests show that depending on road and traffic conditions, each liter of gasoline consumed by the engine generates enough electricity to travel 20-30km-one third to one half the amount consumed to travel a comparable distance with a conventional engine. Despite this miserly fuel consumption, the engine generates 100kW of power and 830Nm of torque--more than adequate for a car that weighs 1,660kg.

"Delta Electronics is able to provide a complete propulsion system solution, whether for pure electric vehicles, or for tandem or parallel gas-electric hybrid vehicles," stated Simon Chang, general manager of Delta's industrial automation business unit. "The system includes a battery management system, power control unit, traction motor, integrated stator and generator, vehicle control unit, and charger."

In addition, Chang pointed out, hybrid vehicles will need such advanced components as LED lighting, high-efficiency brushless DC fan cooling systems, electric power steering, passive keyless entry, and various types of inverters. "Delta has already accumulated extensive design and manufacturing experience in many automobile electronic components," he continued. "As we are now a certified supplier of electromagnetic components, cooling management products, and stepped motors to the world's top car makers, we have an advantage over the rest of the electronics industry when it comes to the automobile electronics market."

Right Timing

China is expected to produce around 13 million new automobiles in 2009, Hai noted, and the figure could jump to a mind-boggling 30 million units in 2020. Since the Chinese government has targeted a 40% reduction in carbon by 2020, and since the auto market there is much more open than Japan's, he said, "Now is the right time for Delta to develop electric vehicles and power control systems. We're targeting at least a 10% share of China's electric vehicle market."

The company plans to focus not on assembled electric vehicles but on key parts and systems, which account for more than 50% of the overall cost of such vehicles.