A propulsion system for an electric vehicle comprising a high voltage battery unit having a first high voltage battery connected in series with a second high voltage battery and one or more power inverters arranged to connect the battery banks to one or more electric machines. The one or more power inverters and the one or more electric machines are configured to form a first and a second three-phase system, and the system and method relates to fault handling if a fault is detected in one of the first and second three-phase system. The architecture incorporating dual battery banks, and dual and/or multiphase inverters and electric machines can provide enhanced redundancy and limp home functionality in cases where a fault or error occurs in the inverter and/or in the electric machine so that a faulty three-phase system can be operated in a safe pulse-off mode.

A charging apparatus includes: an electric power source circuit including a first inverter and a second inverter to drive one motor; and a charging port having a positive electrode terminal connected to a positive electrode side of a first storage battery, and a negative electrode terminal connected to a negative electrode side of a second storage battery. In the case where the battery charger outputs first electric power, the first storage battery and the second storage battery are connected in parallel when being charged with the first electric power. In the case where the battery charger outputs second electric power that is larger than the first electric power, the first storage battery and the second storage battery are connected in series when being charged with the second electric power.

A motor system provided with one motor and two inverters includes a first inverter control unit which changes a frequency of a first carrier wave (first carrier frequency) used for producing a switching signal fora first inverter according to an operating point of the motor; and a second inverter control unit which changes a frequency of a second carrier wave (second carrier frequency) used for producing a switching signal for a second inverter according to an operating point of the motor. The first carrier frequency has a changing characteristic depending on the first inverter control unit and the second carrier frequency has a changing characteristic depending on the second inverter control unit, and the changing characteristics are different from each other to make the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency differ from each other at an identical operating point.

A propulsion system for an electric vehicle, the system comprising a high voltage battery unit having a first high voltage battery connected in series with a second high voltage battery such that a nominal operating voltage of the high voltage battery unit is the sum of a voltage of the first high voltage battery and a voltage of the second high voltage battery; at least one power inverter arranged to connect the high voltage battery unit and the first high voltage battery to at least one electrical machine; wherein the power inverter is configured to distribute energy generated by the at least one electrical machine to the first and second high voltage battery to balance a state of charge of the first and second high voltage battery.

A propulsion system for an electric vehicle comprising a high voltage battery unit having a first high voltage battery connected in series with a second high voltage battery, which may also be referred to as a first and second battery bank, and one or more power inverters arranged to connect the battery banks to one or more electric machines. The one or more power inverters and the one or more electric machines are configured to form a first and a second three-phase system, and the system and method relates to fault handling if a fault is detected in one of the first and second three-phase system. The architecture incorporating dual battery banks, and dual and/or multiphase inverters and electric machines can provide enhanced redundancy and limp home functionality in cases where a fault or error occurs in the inverter and/or in the electric machine so that a faulty three-phase system can be operated in a safe pulse-off mode.

A propulsion system for an electric vehicle comprising a high voltage battery unit having a first high voltage battery connected in series with a second high voltage battery, which may also be referred to as a first and second battery bank, and one or more power inverters arranged to connect the battery banks to one or more electric machines. The one or more power inverters and the one or more electric machines are configured to form a first and a second three-phase system. The described architecture incorporating dual battery banks, and dual and/or multiphase inverters and electric machines can provide enhanced redundancy and limp home functionality in cases where a fault or error occurs in the inverter and/or in the electric machine so that a faulty three-phase system can be operated in a safe-state mode.

An electrical system includes a multi-level traction power inverter module (TPIM), a polyphase electric machine, and a controller. The TPIM has multiple switching sets collectively operable for inverting a DC voltage on a DC voltage bus into an AC voltage on an AC voltage bus. The electric machine has (m) multiple electrical phases. Each of the (m) multiple electrical phases is connected to and driven by a respective one of the switching sets of the TPIM. The controller determines when the electric machine enters a predetermined partial-load region of operation, and, responsive to entry into the predetermined partial-load region, selectively deactivates a predetermined number (n) of the (m) multiple electrical phases. This is done via switching state signals to corresponding ones of the switching sets, with nm2.

An inverter system for a vehicle may include an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy; a first inverter including a plurality of first switching elements, and converting the energy into AC power; a second inverter including a plurality of second switching elements different from the first switching elements, being connected to the energy storage device in parallel with the first inverter, and converting the energy into AC power; a motor driven by receiving the AC power; a PWM signal generating device configured to generate a reference Pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal for controlling driving of the motor; and a PWM signal converting device configured to convert the reference PWM signal into both a first PWM signal input into the first inverter to drive the first switching elements, and a second PWM signal input into the second inverter to drive the second switching elements.

A charging apparatus includes: an electric power source circuit including a first inverter and a second inverter to drive one motor; and a charging port having a positive electrode terminal connected to a positive electrode side of a first storage battery, and a negative electrode terminal connected to a negative electrode side of a second storage battery. In the case where the battery charger outputs first electric power, the first storage battery and the second storage battery are connected in parallel when being charged with the first electric power. In the case where the battery charger outputs second electric power that is larger than the first electric power, the first storage battery and the second storage battery are connected in series when being charged with the second electric power.

An electric drive system for a vehicle includes an electric machine having first conductors arranged in slots of a stator to form phase windings and a second conductor arranged in the slots to form a secondary winding that produces a voltage indicative of a common mode voltage caused by voltages applied to the phase windings. The voltage can be used to supply power to electronic components and for diagnosis and control of the electric machine and an associated inverter.