Frost & Sullivan Selects Raser Technologies for Motor Drive Award
21 June 2006
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| The P-50 Integrated Starter Alternator (ISA) motor. |
Frost & Sullivan, the global consulting firm, has selected Raser Technologies as the recipient of the 2006 Motor Drive Systems Technology Innovation of the Year Award for developing and innovating the Symetron AC induction motor-based P-50 hybrid propulsion integrated starter alternator (ISA) drive technology. (Earlier post.)
At 107 mm (4.2 inches) in length and weighing only 30 kg, the P-50 motor delivers 48 kW of peak power, 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of peak torque, and a peak efficiency of 94%. As a generator the P-50 produces 20 kW of power.
The Symetron motor and controller system provide improvements over competing conventional electric motors—increased power, a lower cost per kilowatt, higher torque density, and an economical AC induction design—making it suitable for use in electric and hybrid vehicles such as cars, buses, and trucks. Raser’s drive system incorporates the patent pending Symetron control software and motor designs.
Symetron is also distinguished by its versatility and adaptability to a host of applications made possible by its ability to scale to higher horsepower requirements at minimal expense, according to Frost & Sullivan.
This feature can be exploited in hybrids ranging from economy cars and light trucks (full hybrids and plug-in hybrids) to large military combat vehicles.
Using such technology, automakers gain added flexibility to develop a high-performance cost-effective hybrid option for current makes and models, and a low-cost one-machine solution for eliminating the separate starter motors and alternators found in today's conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
—Rajesh Kannan, Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst
Each year Frost & Sullivan presents Motor Drive Systems Technology Innovation of the Year to a company that has carried out new research, which has resulted in innovation(s) that have or are expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change, and competitive posture. The award recognizes the quality and depth of a company’s research and development program as well as the vision and risk-taking that enabled it to undertake such an endeavor.
So have they now actually built one of these? Or is this still all theoretical performance as it was the last time we had news of this drive?
:)
Posted by: Ash | 21 June 2006 at 06:29 AM
Electric motors and AC controllers are pretty well understood. whether that have physically made samples of the motors or not, the performance is likely to be what they say it is.
Posted by: shaun mann | 21 June 2006 at 07:31 AM
Although I drive a Prius, I applaud this. "Normal" cars can use this, and realize great fuel savings. In addition, if all cars had this, imagine how quite everything would be at stop lights, etc!!
Posted by: Bud Johns | 21 June 2006 at 07:53 AM
Their site has a video clip showing dynamometer testing of their axial motors (not the pancake motor in this article), which (assuming the data isn't faked), can deliver up to 500 or so HP in a very compact package.
Posted by: AES | 21 June 2006 at 07:57 AM
where can i buy one or something similar ? i'd be happy with axial version as im planning a AC conversion
Posted by: kert | 21 June 2006 at 08:09 AM
If this is so much more efficient, could it be used to improve output of wind turbines -- including smaller scale versions?
Posted by: JMartin | 21 June 2006 at 08:43 AM
We could see this implemented on the M113, and light wheeled APCs first. Tactical logistics (Oshkosh, Stewart & Stevenson, etc) could benefit too. Mobile multipurpose offroad vehicles that could double as generators would be welcomed.
Posted by: allen zheng | 21 June 2006 at 08:50 AM
This has to be some form or external rotor generator/motor to achieve 94% efficiency.
The same sort of thing I have been trying to give to everybody for years. Nice to see that a few people are slowly catching on.
Posted by: Lucas | 21 June 2006 at 09:08 AM
I wish they would release this to the general public for individual sales, but they will likely only enter into contracted parterships with larger manufacturers, at least at first, so they told me on the phone close to a year ago. It's hard to be patient. Hopefully that will change soon.
Posted by: John W. | 21 June 2006 at 09:15 AM
Does anybody know what this Symetron technology is supposed to be doing? The site contains no concrete information, only marketing blabla. As far as I can see, their are no independent confirmations of their claims. I am skeptical.
Posted by: anne | 21 June 2006 at 09:42 AM
Hi Anne, I am not so skeptical; they have developed prototypes that work well: one on a hybrid snowmobile project, as well as the aforementioned 500 horse motor, for example. They work with the magnetic flux fields in such a unique way as to greatly increase efficienty and torque production, heat reduction, etc. I can't explain it better myself, I know others could.
Posted by: John W. | 21 June 2006 at 10:19 AM
Anne - I haven't seen much of you here. If you have not done so, take a google look at: William Lucas Jones Hybrid. Mitsubshi has produced a coupe of concept cars using some of my suggestions but nobody has yet been brave enough to go all the way.
These motor.generators would fit right in by putting one at every wheel.
Posted by: Lucas | 21 June 2006 at 10:21 AM
Where I'm skeptical about this motor is its application. If it's applicable ultimately to Plug-in Hybrid status, that's fine. But, if it's only used in a start/stop feature, that's not good enough. Cars and trucks ultimately must run on electricity alone, at higher speeds and longer distances. Thus, a start/stop feature is an inadequate advancement.
This motor's applicability as an 'in-wheel' motor is also questionable. The 'in-wheel' motor is likely to have maintenance and reliability problems; from lack of shock absorption, exposure to water, temperature, road grime, wear from road-handling torque, and unpredictable imbalances of electricity distribution between wheels.
July Popular Science has a respectable page on Plug-in Hybrids. The article didn't go far enough, but at least Plug-in hybrid technology has finally reached the unwashed masses.
Posted by: Wells | 21 June 2006 at 11:49 AM
Wells -
48kW power and 230 Nm translates to apparently 2000 RPM. That would suggest a location between the transmission and the differential.
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 21 June 2006 at 02:20 PM
I believe this is an induction motor with a 17 pole field. This somehow increases the magnetic leverage that the rotor is pulled toward allowing greater torque in a smaller package. It cannot be used as an in-wheel motor. By not using rare-earth permanent magnets it costs less to manufacture. Of course I could be describing a different motor, I've looked at so many designs lately.
Posted by: tom deplume | 21 June 2006 at 05:25 PM
If you read their patent, the motor is a synchronous AC motor with a significant variation,
which is the essence of their patent. It is more efficient but also has a better power to mass ratio that makes it one powerful motor. They develop a lot of power in a small package. If you are a company and want to sign a non-disclosure agreement, you can get a motor and controller to have an independant testing lab verify the performance.
Posted by: sjc | 21 June 2006 at 08:04 PM
This is a joke at least now you can buy for $4k AC inverter and 15kW (cont.) motor combo for Siemens, which is enough for small aerodynamic car. I doubt these guys have it bellow $15k..
Posted by: Wupertal | 22 June 2006 at 01:35 AM
@John W.
Thanks, for the reply. I understand that there's more than the site shows. But you know, some 6th sense alarm goes of as soon as I read sentences like these:
"This revolutionary motor technology works under a set of proprietary design innovations."
"To improve on the basic motor design that's been used for over a hundred years and to achieve the maximum power nature would allow, several significant aspects of the electric motor would have to be literally re-invented and re-implemented in a completely different way."
How much information do you get from this? Nothing. And elswhere it is not any better. Can you understand I get a feeling of "more hype than substance"?
We'll see what happens.
Posted by: anne | 23 June 2006 at 04:23 AM
I think it is very good motor for automobiles. I hope the engineers of Raser Technology will design and cheaper AC motors with peak power 1kw, 2 kW, 4 kW, 8 kW, 16 kW, 32 kW for futured electro-motorcycles and electro-scooters...
Posted by: PET | 17 October 2006 at 06:53 PM