A white paper authored by Mentor Graphics' Phil Davies and available for free download provides information on the technological and business trends that are presenting challenges to designers of systems for electric vehicles. Among these systems are wiring harnesses, sensing systems and even in-vehicle data networks.
Davies notes, "All electric vehicle platforms bring a number of new design challenges in system simulation, electromagnetic interference (EMI), failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), sneak-cricuit analysis and more." Later he adds that, "complex control systems" require "network capacity increases," and points out that "technologies such as Flexray (10 Mbits/s) will replace the older, slower 1 Mbit/s networks."
The paper, entitled "Advanced EDS design tools pave the way for a transition to electric vehicles," also provides an understanding of these design challenges related to electric-vehicle systems:
- The multiple, overlapping domains that make electric-vehicle design a complex task
- The increasing complexity of control systems within battery-powered vehicles
- Means of validating electrical-system designs to minimize the risk of occupant injury
- Creating custom design constraints to minimize electrical interference among systems
- Building system prototypes to determine which ones weigh less, use less wire and have fewer components
Anyone can download the paper by registering. You can register and download here.
