Massive Audio is developing prototype amplifiers for next spring designed to work exclusively with electric vehicles (EVs).
New Massive Audio EV Nano, EV4, EV1 and EV2 amplifiers will lack power supplies, as they can draw current and voltage directly from the lithium-ion battery banks in EVs, said the company. These amplifiers are mainly output sections that will not require limiting and expensive filtering, as the voice coils on speakers can often be used as the final filters, said Massive Audio Vice President JR Mares.
In traditional Class D amplifiers, you have limited bandwidth, limited signal to noise ratios, lots of noise and a much lower damping factor, due to the need for lots of filtration on the amplifier’s outputs, he said.
High speed digital amplifiers, on the other hand, are switching at super-fast speeds, at much higher frequencies. They require very little output filtration and thus have superior performance and sound quality characteristics,” he explained.
Massive Audio EV amplifiers would tie into the EVs’ battery banks and wouldn’t need additional long wire runs like in traditional higher power systems, said Mares.
Teslas, for example use 400 – 450-volt battery banks currently and Tesla is working on vehicles with even higher voltages. “Our challenge is identifying the correct way to safely tap directly into the battery banks on Tesla EVs and several other EV and hybrid vehicles,” Mares said.
Massive Audio expects to travel with a demo EV and the EV amplifier prototypes throughout California in April/May. Then in June/July, it plans to compete with these amps in audio competitions to prove the concept. Shortly after, Massive Audio will offer a commercial aftermarket product.
The EV amplifier might cost half as much as a comparable model, since it lacks a power supply, output filters and it uses less heat sink material, Mares added.
[Thank you to Todd Ramsey, Ramsey Consulting Group, for providing some background information on EV amplifiers to CEoutlook for the story].
I gotta admit.. I’m a “try anything” sort of guy, but I don’t think I want to be tapping into 400-800vDC batteries. AC hurts and can kill you, DC hurts and will almost definitely kill you (makes you grab on instead of let go).
I like the ingenuity of using high voltage to cut out the high-to-low voltage convertor in the car out of the loop, thus increasing efficiency. But I question how safe it will be in the EV field for techs that aren’t used to working on EVs. You need to be very safe and have the correct PPE and those gloves can have zero pinholes in them.
This is what Massive wrote:
In traditional Class D amplifiers, you have limited bandwidth, [NONESENSE MY DESIGNS USED BY OTHER CAR AUDIO COMPANIES RUN FLAT TO 50kKHz] limited signal to noise ratios [NONESENSE AGAIN, MY UNIQUE POWER SUPPLY ALLOWS FOR S/N RATIOS OF OVER 100dB IN 150w 4 OHM AND HIGHER POWERS], lots of noise [NONESENSE ONCE AGAIN IF YOU DESIGN THE POWER SUPPLY CORRECTLY AND USE MULTI LAYER GROUNDING, THEN NOISE IS NOT AN ISSUE] and a much lower damping factor [ ONCE AGAIN CLUELESS AS MY DESIGNS ENCASE THE RECONSTRUCTION FILTER WITHIN THE FEEDBACK LOOP AND SO DAMPING FACTOR CAN BE KEPT ABOVE 150 ref 4 OHM], due to the need for lots of filtration on the amplifier’s outputs, he said.
High speed digital amplifiers [ NO SUCH THING AS A “DIGITAL AMPLIFIER” – ALL CLASS D AMPLIFIERS ARE ANALOG], on the other hand, are switching at super-fast speeds, at much higher frequencies. They require very little output filtration [ BS] and thus have superior performance and sound quality characteristics,” he explained.
ZED AUDIO CORP.
Sir, you seem to be contradicting what is on your web site regarding class-d, “pesky high powered class D….The designs have flaws.” I was using high speed digital to refer to the newer Class-d chip sets like the Crown, Ice edge and others. Moreover, class D was not prevalent in pro audio until more recently due to issues in traditional off shore/older class-d designs. In my opinion, sir, you are one the best designers for power supplies, along with Mr. Dirk Ecker from US AMPS.
Hernando,
To whom are you replying?
if it is to Zed Audio there is nothing on our website about class D amplifiers.
While I applaud the ingenuity and effort to try something new, and the concept is there.. However, I really just can not see that tapping into the main battery bank of a Tesla or other EV is something anyone wants someone doing. Tesla alone does not want you to replace the 12V battery on your own. Of course we can all do it easily, but they know how volatile their electrical system can be so they are careful on all fronts when it comes to that. Now we are saying hey lets just let a 12V installer tap on into the main battery bank thus drawing power from the source the car needs to get down the road, and in turn lowering range the one factor everyone wants more of in an EV..