XENSIV™ – TLE4972 magnetic current sensor

White Paper Overview

In an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain, the primary battery produces DC current while the traction motor(s) require(s) AC current. The conversion from DC to AC is performed by the traction inverter, making it a critical component within all EV drivetrains. In most EVs today, a ‘bi-directional inverter’ or ‘inverter/converter’ consisting of a voltage converter along with a built-in charge controller that captures energy from the motors during regenerative braking and returns this to the traction battery is used for this.

Current sensors measure the current in the three phases of the inverter. They provide feedback and this information is used to regulate the engine torque. The better the information on the current, the smoother the EV engine control and the better the torque balance for vehicle stability and steering accuracy. This leads to longer EV driving ranges, less noise, longer lifetimes for mechanical components, as well as increased comfort and safety.

In this whitepaper, we address some of the key design parameters for current sensors in automotive inverters, going on to highlight why XENSIV TLE4972 is the perfect fit not only for this application but also for high-voltage industrial drives.