The composition and functions of the three small
electrics in new energy vehicles
The "three small electrics" in new energy vehicles usually refer to the key components of new energy vehicles other than the "three big electrics" (power battery, motor, and electronic control). One way of saying it is: "electric air conditioning, electric brakes, and electric steering"; in a broad sense, it is: "DC/DC converter, on-board charger, and high-voltage distribution box".
"Three small electrics" refers to auxiliary components in new energy vehicles, including high-voltage distribution boxes (PDU), onboard chargers (OBC), and DC/DC converters. These components play an important role in AC/DC energy conversion and transmission in new energy vehicles.
Components and functions of "small three electrics"
High-voltage power distribution unit (PDU): responsible for the high-voltage electrical distribution of the whole vehicle, including power distribution of power batteries, motor controllers, inverters, and other components.
Onboard charger (OBC): responsible for converting external AC power into DC power to charge the battery.
DC/DC converter: responsible for converting the high-voltage DC power of the battery pack into low-voltage DC power to power other electrical components in the vehicle. Together, these components ensure the power supply and energy management of new energy vehicles.
Development trend of "small three electrics"
With the continuous development of new energy vehicle technology, "small three electrics" are also developing in the direction of integration and intelligence. Integration can improve efficiency and reduce costs and is the main trend of future development. For example, Tesla integrates PDU into power batteries to reduce development costs; BYD integrates OBC, DC/DC, motor controllers, etc., further reducing costs and volume.
