Tekniker participates in the Go Mobility trade fair

Tekniker, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), had an outstanding presence at the second edition of the Go Mobility trade fair, a reference forum for professionals from the south of Europe focused on sustainable mobility and power storage. The event, co-sponsored by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and the Basque Government, took place on March 11 and 12 at the Ficoba exhibition centre in Irún.

During this second edition, the technology centre showcased its solutions for power electronics and electric motors in area 3-04 of hall 3. More specifically, the organisation presented two demonstrators to describe the progress made over recent years. It has to be stressed, moreover, that Tekniker has concentrated part if its specialisation and technological development on transforming the automotive sector.

Customised power electronics

Tekniker presented a four-phase inverter fitted with SiC (silicon carbide) semiconductors that allows switched reluctance motors to be controlled on electric vehicles. The aim of this initiative is to ascertain up to what extent it would be possible to develop customised power electronics equipment.

Thanks to the features offered by these semiconductors it is possible to reduce losses, increase switching frequency and reduce current harmonics. Consequently, it is possible to increase system efficiency and reduce volumes.

However, this is not only geared towards converters used for mobility (traction or loading infrastructures) but can also be applied to power generation and storage and even applications that require electric machine control.

An efficient electric motor

In order to reaffirm its commitment with regard the environment, Tekniker showcased a switched reluctance electric motor with transversal flow that is much more efficient, reliable, robust, economical and sustainable and has been fully developed by the centre itself. The idea was born within the framework of a European project called Weevil, an initiative that has developed a three-wheeled electric vehicle with a design that, compared to a conventional car, is equally compact, comfortable and safe.

This system, more geared towards the automotive and railway sectors, features a compact design that brings its three main elements together in a single component: the electric machine, the gearbox and the electronic converter.

Its structure does not only increase motor torque but also simplifies the vehicle’s transmission as no permanent magnets are required. Thanks to being small, moreover, there are less components, weight is reduced and there is more space.

Towards sustainable, accessible and connected mobility

In addition to presenting the most recent innovations related to the mobility and power storage sectors, the exhibition also organised several presentations and round table discussions featuring manufacturers, suppliers and professionals from the fields of sustainable mobility and power storage and research centres such as Tekniker.

In this regard, the second edition of Go Mobility also made it possible to develop closer links between different actors connected to new mobility and whose challenge consists in creating more sustainable, accessible, safe and connected alternatives.