One of the best half about BEV and hybrid vehicles might be the bit the place their electronics are taken out for a great teardown and comparability with earlier generations and competing designs. Living proof: This [Denki Otaku] teardown of a fifth-generation Prius inverter and motor controller, which you’ll be able to see within the video beneath. First launched in 2022, this stays the present platform utilized in fashionable Prius hybrid vehicles.
In comparison with the fourth-generation design from 2015, the fifth era noticed about half of its design modified or up to date, together with the stack-up and liquid cooling structure. As soon as [Otaku] popped open the massive aluminium field containing the twin motor controller and inverters, we may see the controller card, which connects to the ability playing cards that deal with the heavy energy conversion. These are instantly coupled to a severe aluminium liquid-cooled heatsink.
On the backside of the Prius sandwich is the 12VDC inverter board, which does just about what it says on the tin. With much less extreme cooling necessities, it {couples} its heat-producing elements into the aluminium enclosure from the place the liquid cooling loop can choose up that little bit of thermal waste. Total, it appears to be like like a really clear and modular design, which, as famous within the video, nonetheless leaves loads of room contained in the housing.
No matter what you consider the Prius on the street, it’s important to admit it’s enjoyable to hack.
