The High Torque eV Motor project (HiTEV) will deliver a high torque EV electrical machine and drive system. The current State-of-the-art Nissan Leaf machine is the benchmark by which the project deliverables will be judged, both technically and commercially. The advances made in this project will align with the European driving scene, including higher vehicle speed and longer typical driving range per journey. Additionally, this leads to the overall reduction in vehicle CO2 emissions and increased reliability and the initial objective is to achieve twice the output torque thus requiring only half the speed range that the standard Leaf machine achieves.

Consortium partners, Nissan UK and The University of Sheffield, who have a good previous track record in joint EV machine research will develop novel high torque density drive system. Nissan at its R&D facility in Cranfield aims to convert its engine test facilities into state of the art EV machine drive-train test cell in order to validate the prototype machines and will facilitate the up-skilling of UK engineers based at Nissan, together with the supply chain for the manufacture of vehicles within the UK.

The University of Sheffield has significant expertise in the development of novel machine and drive topologies for EV use and aims to provide a step change in technology currently employed within the EV community. Nissan, which currently produces the Leaf at its Sunderland manufacturing facility, will provide a direct route to market and facilitate the exploitation of the UK commercial supplier based for EV drivetrain components.