E-motors: Integration, Application and Beyond w/ Craig Renneker

In this episode Stephan sits down with Craig Renneker VP of Engineering at American Axle & Manufacturing to discuss integrating the gearbox, inverter and motor, increasing the rpms of the e-motors, applications for both permanent magnet and induction motors and more.
Craig is strong believer that the future of electric drives lies in deeper levels of integration between the inverter, motor and gearbox. As such, they are developing all three from scratch here in their Advanced Technology Development Center in Detroit. AAM also shares a common interest with AVL in developing high-speed motors and a major enabler to cost, volume and weight reduction. Craig has spoken to AVL’s Hummingbird team before and is excited about what they are doing.

AAM’s inverter technology is unique in the industry today as they are using TO247 discrete MOSFET switches arranged in a ring, attached directly to the motor end windings and cooled with the same oil that cools the motor and lubricates the gearbox. They have had this running in demonstration vehicles and with their first paid customer (REE in Israel) for nearly 4 years now. Craig presented on the technology at the CTI electric drive conference and other venues. This technology was the centerpiece of AAM’s first display at the Consumer Electronics Show in January of 2023.

Craig spent 30 years in automatic transmission development – from 3-speeds to 10-speeds. In his 19 years at Ford, he developed and launched 18 all-new automatic transmissions, hybrids and electric drives. He retired from Ford in December, 2018 with the Mustang Mach-E electric drive as his last active project. He’s been with AAM now for 4-1/2 years and focuses his time today on their “Gen 5” and “Gen 6” electric drives.

Craig is married with 6 kids and lives nearby in Salem Township. He and his are also foster parents with three girls (ages 6, 5 and 3-months) living with them now. He owns 7 motorcycles and enjoys adventure motorcycle riding. I have a 7-day trip coming in September crossing Colorado with 10 buddies riding mostly on Jeep trails through the mountain passes.

If you would like to be a guest on the show contact: [email protected]