A Horse, the Renault Group’s engine division in Cacia, Aveiro, announced the start of production of the new Power Electronic Boxes (PEB), an important component for the production of hybrid engines, as it is responsible for managing the electric motors in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The new box, which has been redesigned to simplify components to increase robustness and reliability, integrates various critical systems into a single unit.
The device, which has been redesigned simplifying components to increase robustness and reliability, integrates various critical systems into a single unit, including:
Power inverter/converter, which converts the High Voltage DC current from the battery into Alternating Current (AC) to power the electric motors.
DC/DC converter, which converts the energy from the high voltage DC battery into low voltage DC for the 14V network for use in various subsystems of the car, including lights, multimedia, and charging for the 12V battery.
Control electronics, which provides real-time regulation for energy distribution throughout the vehicle based on speed and acceleration.
Cooling, the new box also ensures that all components avoid being affected by overheating, maximizing the unit’s lifespan and improving its efficiency.
“The start of production of the Power Electronic Box in Aveiro is a significant milestone, as it signifies the transition to the manufacturing of electronic components for HORSE in Portugal. Additionally, we use an innovative production process that allows us to have a significant competitive advantage. This substantially increases our production capacity, ensuring that we can provide key hybrid vehicle technologies to our customers worldwide. The Aveiro production line enhances our flexibility and productivity, while serving as a beacon of Industry 4.0, reaffirming our position as a leading supplier of low-carbon combustion and hybrid powertrain systems.”, stated Patrice Haettel, CEO of Horse, in a press release.
The Renault division has already announced its intention to achieve a production of 230,000 PEB boxes per year in Aveiro starting in 2025.
