MSc Automotive Eng.

M65MAE – Ground Vehicle Dynamics I

Electric Dynamic Control (eDC)

The future of vehicles is driven by the need to reduce emissions, and with the rise in fuel prices, the
automotive manufactures are increasingly converting to hybrid and electric vehicles.

Another strong target of the industry is to increase the safety, they’re achieving it with active safety
devices, such as electronic stability control/program (ESC/ESP), which are based on breaking individual
wheels, avoiding spinning and drifting. Currently almost all manufactures are using them to improve
the overall safety of the vehicle. However ESC/ESP systems usually only actuate at the limit of handling
performance.

The first generation of mass produced hybrid/electric vehicles have inherited similar architecture as
the traditional fuel driven vehicles, where there is one central engine/motor that transfers torque
through a conventional driveline. However, as referenced above, as the popularity of hybrid/electric
vehicles increases, the configuration of the vehicles changes, technologies such as in-wheel electric
motors start to be implemented, with advantages for both packaging and vehicle control.

With the opportunity to enhance the handling performance, engineers at Mira have developed a yaw
motion control device, named Electric Dynamic Control (eDC) aiming to provide the dynamic control
that is currently lacking in most hybrid/electric vehicles.

The eDC system consist of two electronically controlled independent electric motors (as shown in
Figure 1) the capability of “zero-emissions” driving, regenerative braking and acceleration support
(which are fairly common on hybrid/electric vehicles), but the main feature is that the motors can be
commanded in opposite-phases, which means that they can generate yaw moment so the eDC can
control the yaw motion of the vehicle (Miles 2016).

Figure 1 – CAD illustration of the electronic dynamic control (eDC) unit

fitted in a subframe

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MSc Automotive Eng. M65MAE – Ground Vehicle Dynamics I

As exhibited in the Figure 2 this unit is quite compact and consequently it’s suitable for an extensive
range of vehicles. With this configuration it’s possible to preserve the original drivetrain of the vehicle,
where each electric motor are fitted beside the differential, in series with the driveshafts.

Figure 2 – eDC unit

Horiba Mira tested the system in a Jaguar, in the Figure 3 it’s possible to better visualize that the eDC
is really compact.

Figure 3 – eDC fitted in a Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel

The eDC yaw control offers fast and outstandingly controllable actuation, this is feasible due to the
high control bandwidth combined with the fast response time of the motors.

Mira states that there is no corruption of driver feedback and in addition, the system interferences do
not negatively affect the driver’s steering feel. They also claim that there is no requirement for an
additional battery since the wheel with resistance regenerates the power dissipated by the wheel with
positive torque (Mira 2016).

The biggest downside of this system is the mechanical implementation in a vehicle, it’s required to
build a subframe and build/adapt new supports for the system.

With this system the lateral dynamics are greatly improved, particularly when compensating
understeer, providing an overall better driving experience. Correction of oversteer can also be
achieved as long as they don’t saturate the rear tyres. In both cases the system is actuating in the sub
limit region, allowing a great degree of yaw damping, therefore it improves the yaw stability with the
attached benefit of customisation. “Cost/benefit ratio evaluated and their driver acceptance
assessed” (Mira 2016).

David Chaves February 2018 Page 2

MSc Automotive Eng. M65MAE – Ground Vehicle Dynamics I

List of references

Horiba Mira (2016) Electric Dynamic Control (eDC) [online] available from
<https://www.horiba-mira.com/research/electric-dynamic-control-(edc)>
[16 February 2018]

Miles, J. (2016) ‘Torque vectoring for good, clean fun’ Vehicle Dynamics International [online]
available from
<http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/exclusive_articles.php?ArticleID=1875>
[16 February 2018]

Horiba Mira Ltd. (2016) Figure 3 [online] available from

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUEM3GDNnKo>
[16 February 2018]

Miles, J. (2016) Figure 1 § Figure 2 [online] available from

<http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/exclusive_articles.php?ArticleID=1875>
[16 February 2018]

David Chaves 2018