Tesla announced yesterday (July 31) via its official Weibo account that it has achieved a significant milestone by producing its 10 millionth electric drive system at the Shanghai Gigafactory.
Tesla stated on Weibo, "We have redefined electric drive systems with in-house research and production from scratch. These over 10 million powerful 'hearts' have made every Tesla model a performance benchmark. We appreciate the support and companionship of over 6 million owners, accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy together."
The electric drive system is a critical component of electric vehicles, comprising the drive motor, motor controller, and gearbox. According to reports cited by IT Home from the Electric Vehicle Association, Tesla's electric drive systems have undergone four generations of technological iterations:
The first generation was used in the Roadster, employing an AC Propulsion-licensed asynchronous induction motor as the drive motor, with the controller utilizing IGBT parallel technology. Despite fewer early developments and deliveries, it laid the groundwork for electric vehicle technology.
The second generation was employed in the Model S/X, with the controller optimized into a three-dimensional structure, resembling a sandwich-like layered design, achieving symmetrical layout of the asynchronous motor and controller.
The third generation was utilized in the Model 3/Y, introducing permanent magnet synchronous motors for the first time, with the controller incorporating silicon carbide power devices and a redesigned compact structure.
The fourth generation further optimized protection measures for output three-phase electrical connections, incorporating infrared temperature sensors; adopting integrated stirring welding for controller production, significantly reducing costs; and introducing integral casting for motor oil filter housings with embedded filter cores, eliminating the need for replacement.
Tesla's achievement of producing the 10 millionth electric drive system at the Shanghai Gigafactory underscores its leadership in electric vehicle technology and its pivotal role in the global electric vehicle market. With increasing environmental awareness and rapid growth in the electric vehicle market, Tesla remains committed to advancing electric vehicle technology innovation and promoting the widespread adoption of sustainable energy, aiming to provide high-quality, high-performance electric vehicle products to more consumers worldwide.
