Tesla has confirmed that technology developed for the Cybercab’s next-generation electric drive unit is making its way into the Model 3, with the same components also compatible with the Model Y.
During a factory tour with Munro Live, Nick Verzini, Tesla’s Head of Drive Unit Engineering, explained that the company developed the new inverter with an emphasis on efficiency, manufacturing simplicity and compatibility across multiple vehicle platforms.
One of the biggest improvements is a substantial reduction in electronic components compared with the previous-generation inverter currently used in the Model 3. Tesla has also designed the new electronics to accommodate components from multiple suppliers, reducing its dependence on individual manufacturers.
During the discussion, Verzini confirmed that the new printed circuit board assembly and power stage will be introduced into Model 3 production this year.
The components were deliberately designed to maintain compatibility with Tesla’s existing drive unit architecture.
When asked whether the entire new inverter assembly could be installed in a Model Y drive unit, the engineer confirmed that it could.
“You could you could just swap this into a Model Y drive unit?” asked Munro Live. “Yep. Yeah. We kept we kept the entire interface. I mean, it works. It’s robust. to perform really well in the field,” Verzini responded.
However, he stopped short of announcing a Model Y production change, declining to say whether the company would introduce the new hardware into that vehicle.
The Cybercab’s drive unit also incorporates several other changes aimed at improving efficiency. Unlike the Model 3’s Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) configuration, Cybercab uses a front-mounted electric motor with an 11:1 gear ratio, compared with approximately 9:1 in many other Tesla vehicles.
Tesla has also moved the motor’s cooling channels into a lower-cost aluminum housing and replaced the electric oil pump with a mechanical unit.
These changes were developed specifically around Cybercab’s operating requirements, and Tesla did not confirm whether they will be adopted by other models.
You can watch the full video from Munro Live below.
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