Motion Applied powers Czinger’s 21C Hypercar

Electrification powering collaboration

When it comes to electrification technology, collaboration has the power to shift existing boundaries of performance and sustainability. Czinger have created the unique and distinctive 21C hypercar which embodies their vision to revolutionise automotive design and performance. Motion Applied and Czinger have together infused motorsport-derived technology into the vehicle. This partnership set new benchmarks in electrification, with the Czinger 21C recently breaking lap records at five California tracks across just five days. Now holding the lap record at Thunderhill Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs Raceway and The Thermal Club, the Czinger 21C has made its mark on the Golden State.

Make way for Silicon Carbide technology

Motion Applied’s IPG5 inverter adopted in the Czinger 21C has advanced Silicon Carbide Inverter technology, enabling ultra-fast charging 800V architectures and increased powertrain efficiency. The technology is capable of powering electric motors to over 400kW with patented advanced motor control strategies, guaranteeing uncompromised power and efficiency. Motion Applied is at the forefront of meeting the growing demand for electrification and high-efficiency power electronics across the automotive sector, as well as in the aerospace, motorsport, commercial vehicles, and marine industries.

The challenge

When searching for ultimate performance, especially on a California’s most prestigious tracks, Czinger needed a platform capable of delivering results to optimise the vehicle’s electrical efficiency.

Czinger’s 21C leverages the innovative technology of its parent company, Divergent, to deliver an innovative, world-first fully 3D printed chassis. Meeting the 21C’s performance goals required a hybrid powertrain, crafting a finely balanced V8 combustion engine and tri-motor electrification system within a tight package for unprecedented power density. The car required the ability to be driven hard and as a result it was essential for Motion Applied to meet safety requirements without compromising the performance.

The Solution

Delivering an uncompromising solution to both power and efficiency within such a tight packaging environment required drawing on Motion Applied’s multiple generations of inverter development. With expertise honed over more than a decade in automotive and motorsport power electronics, IPG5 maximises the potential of silicon carbide with market-leading power density and motor control.

• • Advanced motor control: The IPG5 required calibration of the customer motor, carried out on Motion Applied's high voltage dynamometer test setups which are used to measure the torque and rotational speed (RPM) of the 21C’s motors. Years of chasing optimal performance in motorsport positioned the team to deliver exacting accuracy and precision over the motor operation
• Vehicle integration: Motion Applied and Czinger worked closely to develop a bespoke interface for the IPG5 in-vehicle integration, tailored to the requirements of the 21C package environment.
• Optimisation and refinement: With IPG5 installed in-vehicle, the two companies worked together on vehicle-level calibration and testing, at a proving ground in the US. This included performance tuning across high-speed dynamic runs, skid plane tests, and hill hold tests, as well as robustness validation with additional testing, mileage accumulation, data analysis, and further calibration of software functional safety mechanisms. With regular reporting back to the Motion Applied and Czinger factories, production cars have rolled out with the latest fully calibrated software.

The IPG5’s patented advanced features played a crucial role in overcoming these challenges without compromise:

• Patented Continuously Variable Switching Frequency for reduced losses: The IPG5 can adjust its switching frequency in real-time to match the motor's speed, minimizing energy losses and improving overall system efficiency
• Patented Hybrid Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for optimised motor control: This technique combines different methods to control the power supplied to the motor, ensuring smooth and efficient operation
• Dual Switching Speed for reduced switching losses: By switching between two different speeds, the IPG5 reduces energy lost during switching, enhancing efficiency and broadening the performance capabilities.

Throughout the entire development of the IPG5, Motion Applied adhered to ISO26262, an international standard for functional safety of electronic systems installed in the production of road cars, delivering to the highest integrity level of ASIL-D. This commitment to safety and performance has been essential for the success of the Czinger 21C.

The 21C is a pioneering hybrid hypercar for both road and track, demonstrated by the growing list of track and hill climb records. Our calibration of the inverter-motor pairing enabled reaching new levels of performance and driver engagement, whilst implementing safety mechanisms that meet the highest levels of roadworthiness standards.

Paolo Bargiacchi, Director, Electrification at Motion Applied

The Impact

The collaboration between Motion Applied and Czinger has achieved remarkable outcomes, significantly enhancing the performance of the 21C and proving the versatility and adaptability of the IPG5. The lightweight design of the IPG5 inverter, weighing only 6.4 kilograms, allows for efficient packaging within the vehicle, contributing to the overall agility and responsiveness of the 21C. The vehicle achieves a peak output of 1,332 bhp (932 kW). A formidable power-to-weight ratio positions it among the elite hypercars on the market as demonstrated in California.

Motion Applied’s high-efficiency inverter in the 21C optimises the horsepower of our in-house designed powertrain, enhancing the driver experience

Lukas Czinger, Co-Founder of Czinger Vehicles

Our IPG5 inverter is the culmination of all the know-how and technology we've developed in motorsport and automotive over the last 35 years. As soon as we met Czinger, we knew we were the right cultural fit for their project, sharing an unwavering focus on high performance and a can-do approach.

Samir Maha, CEO at Motion Applied