Integrated Powertrain System - MotorTransformer
Andromeda Power, LLC
Recipient
Long Beach, CA
Recipient Location
33rd
Senate District
69th
Assembly District
$482,130
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project team selected a Nissan Leaf to demonstrate the Integrated Powertrain System (IPS), which enables the car to charge or supply electricity to a building via high-power alternating current (AC). At the core of the project is the MotorTransformer, a modified electric motor that functions as both an isolation transformer for stationary charging and discharging and as a motor for driving.
The MotorTransformer was developed without disassembling the motor’s coils or adding components to the windings, simplifying the process, reducing costs, and preserving structural integrity. This approach also facilitates the development of a scalable, cost-effective MotorTransformer conversion kit. Dual Active Bridge (DAB) modulation—adjusting frequency, phase, and duty cycle—was implemented to efficiently manage electricity flow between the car and a building.
In 2024, high-voltage tests at Andromeda’s facilities verified the system’s reliability at 50 kW, assessing thermal stability, efficiency, harmonic distortion, insulation, and safety. Integration into the Nissan Leaf’s power system is underway, moving the project closer to a practical conversion kit. By the end of 2025, the IPS will be demonstrated in a Nissan Leaf, showcasing V2B (vehicle-to-building) capabilities such as backup power for buildings and energy management—all while maintaining full driving functionality.
The Issue
Fast charging and discharging for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) currently rely on external direct current (DC) charging equipment, which provides a standardized and reliable method for converting battery power into alternating current (AC) to supply building loads. This approach reduces the complexity within the vehicle but increases costs and limits accessibility, particularly in areas with electrical infrastructure constraints.
Leveraging a vehicle’s onboard charging and propulsion components to convert DC battery power directly into AC for building use can help address these challenges. Key advancements include integrating bidirectional inverters, enhancing thermal management systems, and ensuring compliance with grid standards. Safety considerations are also critical, including overload prevention, high-voltage isolation, and robust fault detection to ensure reliable fast charging and discharging.
Project Innovation
The Integrated Powertrain System (IPS) enables bidirectional alternating current (AC) charging using onboard components, reducing reliance on costly offboard direct current (DC) electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). By eliminating the need for external DC equipment, the IPS lowers costs, streamlines deployment, and improves accessibility, particularly in regions with limited or constrained electrical infrastructure.
The system repurposes existing motor and electronic components, allowing motor windings to function as isolation transformers, adapting onboard inverters for bidirectional power flow, and integrating advanced control software for efficient energy conversion. Its scalable design supports diverse energy management needs, ensuring broad adoption across various applications and locations.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This technology allows plug-in electric vehicles to serve as distributed energy resources for the grid by utilizing existing powertrain components and eliminating the need for offboard direct current (DC) electric vehicle supply equipment. This solution could be a low-cost pathway to facility backup power if adopted by electric vehicle manufacturers or suppliers.
Affordability
The Integrated Powertrain System will provide the same backup power services as behind the meter stationary storage at a lower cost than a dedicated storage system and without the emissions associated with backup generators. The system can also enable lower cost bidirectional charging and fast charging compared to approaches that rely on offboard DC EVSEs.
Reliability
This vehicle-to-building solution will provide resilience and reliability benefits that help mitigate the impacts of power outages driven by extreme heat events, wildfires, and public safety power shutoffs.
Affordability
The Integrated Powertrain System will intelligently adjust charging and discharging levels to match electrical infrastructure constraints, potentially reducing the need for grid upgrades.
Key Project Members
Luigi Giubbolini
Subrecipients
Coil Winding Specialist, Inc.
IXYS Long Beach, Inc.
PalPilot International Corporation
Match Partners
Andromeda Power, LLC
Verdek
