As electric vehicle (EV) powertrains grow more complex, model-based design and testing promises true insight; clear, detailed communication; and engineering and operational process efficiency. Automotive test engineers focused on electric powertrain development want to shift as much test as possible—earlier in the development process—to simulation, decreasing dependence on costly dynamometer and field testing. They need to validate and optimize their system design and software control algorithms with model-based simulation to decouple from other team schedules, increase test coverage, and lower the cost of finding and fixing bugs early on.

The EV’s traction inverter (including its controller and connected electric motor) requires high-fidelity, complex, nonlinear behavior modeling to achieve simulation accuracy. An open and extensible test solution incorporating high-fidelity power electronics and electrical machine simulation addresses these needs and helps validation engineers achieve greater test coverage while shortening test times and reducing total cost of test. The Virtual Testbed™ for Battery Electric Vehicle is a signal-level, real-time simulation platform based on NI hardware in-the-loop hardware and FPGA technology that includes relevant AVL models, as well as a workflow covering drivability, operational efficiency, and onboard diagnostics test cases based on the AVL virtualization platform. The solution extends to system level by integrating multiple control units, such as the vehicle control unit and motor control unit.

Join us to learn how model-based FPGA simulation and an integrated systems approach combine flexibility with off-the-shelf delivery.