E-TraM OTP CIP Programme

Over the past few years, there has been a rapid transition of internal combustion engine powertrains to electrified powertrains around the world. Electrified powertrain technologies such as electric automated guided vehicles (AGV), electric drones, and electric off-highway equipment are accelerating the drive towards a more sustainable future.

A*STAR SIMTech is pleased to introduce the E-TraM OTP CIP Programme (Electric Traction Module Open Technology Platform Collaborative Industry Project) to our industry partners. This will be a neutral platform that serves as a catalyst to speed up the local electrification activities of powertrains, which cover e-machines, inverters, and powerful battery systems. A*STAR SIMTech wishes to showcase cutting-edge technologies and capabilities as well as seek problem statements from the industry to promote the innovation and upgrade of the local advanced manufacturing industry.

We warmly welcome industry companies to join our E-TraM OTP CIP Programme and contribute to the establishment of a local drivetrain advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

This CIP Programme would also serve as a professional exchange platform for participants to promote their businesses and interact with potential customers, suppliers, and technology providers.

Objective:

• Leveraging on existing facilities to facilitate networking (ecosystem awareness), industrial gap analysis, and innovation.

Key Activities:

• Focal point for business networking and knowledge sharing among participants to aggregate demand, match businesses, and grow the ecosystem
• To perform gap analysis through the process, identifying the technologies, components, or expertise to be expanded and grown for the success of the ecosystem both in the near term and into the future.
• E-TraM OTP is an experimental and collaborative effort that provides suppliers with a more neutral platform to demonstrate their innovations to OEMs and benchmark the performance of their offerings; through the programme, the OTP training seeks to inspire participants.

Explore Programme:

• "E-TraM OTP Explore" Programme: 8 compulsory sessions spanning across 6 months

Benefits:

• Participate in the industry round table as a focal point for business networking and knowledge sharing among CIP participants to aggregate demand and grow the ecosystem.
• Attend hands-on training by SIMTech and other IHLs to deepen knowledge in drivetrain technology and inspire knowledge creation.
• Obtain a market intelligence report to help navigate business and R&D directions

Objective:

• Strategic 1-to-1 partnership to support companies pivoting into this ecosystem and enhancing the value proposition for existing ones through co-development and benchmarking efforts on selected components and modules

Potential scopes:

• Performance evaluation and benchmarking of commercial offerings such as third-party traction motors, MCUs, and drive inverters
• Integration and performance assessment of sub-components of the drivetrain, such as bearings and gears
• Integration and electrical assessment of component compatibilities within the drivetrain, such as impedance and capacitance matching
• Co-development of traction motors, MCUs, and/or drive inverters
• The expected range of project fee and duration: $15,000–$50,000 + GST over a period of 3 to 6 months
• Leverage the Enterprise Innovation Scheme to qualify for an annual tax deduction of 400% of qualifying costs.

Objective:

• Leverage prototype development in IAF-PP HiPe E-TraM to co-develop novel commercial offerings for strategic partners.

Prototype Showcase for February 2024:

• A variable-reluctance electric motor to improve drive cycle efficiency
• An efficient Vernier motor with high torque density at low RPM
• A computationally efficient vehicular algorithm for the high switching frequency control of the drivetrain
• An optimally designed wide-bandgap device-based drivetrain converter with an effective precision heat dissipation method to enable a bespoke drive controller
• A mass-manufacturable motor housing with enhanced cooling efficiency

NB: IAF-PP HiPe E-TraM R&D from 1 January 2023, to 31 December 2025 (Development of High-Performance Electric Traction Module, Industrial Alignment Fund Pre-Positioning)

Addressing challenges for "high power in a restricted space":

• Achieving higher power density through the optimisation of non-conventional motor parameters
• Improving the drive cycle efficiency through a combination of AI-enabled algorithms with a novel motor topology
• Thermal management via precision heat dissipation and the use of new materials (ferrofluid, GaN devices)