BluE Nexus, AISIN and DENSO jointly develops eAxle for Toyota’s bZ4X

BluE Nexus, AISIN, and DENSO have jointly developed a eAxle for Toyota’s new battery electric vehicle (BEV), bZ4X scheduled to be released in May 12, 2022. BluE’s first eAxle has achieved excellent dynamic performance and downsizing and helps vehicles increase their electric mileage. The eAxle is an electric driving module that integrates a motor, an inverter, and a transaxle. The eAxle to be mounted in the front of a vehicle has a reduced longitudinal length, and the one to be mounted in the rear of a vehicle has a reduced height, helping expand the passenger and luggage compartment spaces.

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The eAxle has achieved excellent dynamic performance and high torque by increasing output density. Optimizing cooling inside the eAxle utilizing simulations and technologies nurtured so far, adapting heat management technology and improving the double-sided cooling technology for inverter layers help to increase output density. Top-class electric mileage has also been achieved through the optimal magnetic design of the motor, the joining technology to shorten coil ends, low-viscosity oil for the eAxle, and loss reduction technologies such as the new RC-IGBT.

The eAxle has been significantly downsized through our technologies, including a built-in structure that incorporates an inverter into the transaxle, a downsized motor, and the shortened distance between the shafts by adopting an output shaft. AISIN has developed and produced more than 5 million electric units since the launch of its first hybrid transmission in 2004. Meanwhile, DENSO has developed and produced more than 20 million inverters since the launch of the first Prius in 1997. BluE, AISIN, and DENSO have jointly developed three new models: a 150kW specification (front) for FWD vehicles and 80kW specifications (front and rear) for 4WD vehicles.

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