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Equipmake unveils<br />
high-power-dense<br />
e-axle for makers<br />
of performance EV<br />
Leading automotive electrification<br />
specialist Equipmake launched the<br />
Ampere-220 e-axle: a compact, lightweight,<br />
high-power electric drive system for<br />
manufacturers of high-performance<br />
electric vehicles.<br />
Debuted at LCV-Cenex, it combines one<br />
of the most advanced 3D-printed electric<br />
motors in the world with all power<br />
electronics, including the company’s own<br />
silicon carbide inverter, and an integrated<br />
transmission system in a compact unit that<br />
directly powers the vehicle’s axle, bringing<br />
a step change in off-the-shelf performance<br />
for electric sports cars and supercars.<br />
At its heart, the e-axle features the Ampere<br />
electric motor, which draws on both<br />
Equipmake’s world-leading expertise in<br />
electric motors - featuring a spoke rotor<br />
design which has recently also featured<br />
in the Ariel HIPERCAR in the form of<br />
Equipmake’s APM motor - and pioneering<br />
knowledge in additive manufacturing and<br />
thermal engineering from Bristol-based<br />
HiETA.<br />
Extremely lightweight yet efficient and<br />
cost-effective, Ampere has peak power<br />
of 220kW and a maximum motor speed<br />
of 30,000rpm. Weighing just under 20kg,<br />
it offers power density of 11kW per kg –<br />
more than twice that of a conventional<br />
electric motor. The key to its performance<br />
is its combination of Equipmake’s spoke<br />
design with additive manufacturing,<br />
allowing Ampere’s metal structure to<br />
be 3D-printed, rather than milled from<br />
a solid billet. Bringing many advantages,<br />
firstly, metal is only put where it is<br />
needed. Secondly, thermally efficient thin<br />
walls and optimised fine surface details<br />
are combined directly with the motor’s<br />
structure, replacing multi-part assemblies<br />
with a single, complex architecture that has<br />
exceptional cooling ability, is lightweight,<br />
has low inertia and allows for greatly<br />
increased rotational speed.<br />
Making its debut in the Ampere-220 e-axle,<br />
the advanced electric motor is combined<br />
with all necessary power electronics,<br />
including Equipmake’s high-performance<br />
silicon carbide-based inverter, and an<br />
integrated transmission system too,<br />
resulting in a<br />
state-of-the-art, highly compact and<br />
lightweight electric drive system that<br />
is ready to be integrated into a highperformance<br />
electric vehicle.<br />
Debuted in twin-motor specification,<br />
Ampere-220 e-axle offers 440kW peak<br />
power per axle with a total unit weight of<br />
just 85kg. Equipmake can also develop a<br />
single-motor<br />
e-axle application with 220kW of peak<br />
power per axle. The Ampere-220 e-axle is<br />
designed, engineered, and manufactured<br />
at Equipmake’s headquarters in Snetterton,<br />
Norfolk, where the company provides the<br />
complete electric vehicle solution, offering<br />
everything from motors to fully electrified<br />
platforms, supporting primarily the<br />
automotive and aerospace sectors.<br />
Ian Foley, Equipmake CEO, said:<br />
“Equipmake has always been at the<br />
forefront of innovation in electric motors,<br />
with our APM range offering class-leading<br />
power densities thanks to their compact,<br />
lightweight designs. Ampere showcases<br />
the next leap, and combined with our own<br />
power electronics, including our silicon<br />
carbide inverter, and transmission system,<br />
we have created the Ampere-220 e-axle.<br />
With such a huge amount of performance<br />
in a compact, lightweight electric drive<br />
unit, one that is also ISO 26262-compliant<br />
and ASIL-D ready, Ampere-220 e-axle<br />
provides the total off-the-shelf highperformance<br />
electric solution for<br />
manufacturers of electric sports cars<br />
and supercars. It further underlines<br />
Equipmake’s position as a leading provider<br />
of state-of-the-art electrification systems to<br />
the automotive industry.”<br />
<strong>January</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 22