ZombieVerter VCU

Now available for general sale here.

Development continues and you can follow and contribute along with the development here on the forum

Support is available via a separate thread on the forum

Introduction

Rather than crack open inverters and swap components about to drive them, what if we simply send them the messages they're expecting? This has been the case with a couple of existing designs (Nissan leaf inverter and GS450H) and thanks to the SAM3X8E microcontroller no longer being stocked by JLCPCB this project looks to take it further.

So rather than driving an inverter powerstage this version sends CAN for the Leaf inverter or Sync serial for the GS450H and of course can be expanded to any number of others. This will be the default firmware for all vcu products from now on and future hardware will support future fun packed stuff like FLEXRAY!!!

It's basically an rip off homage and builds on other people's hard work in the shape of the following projects

• STM32-CAR project
• Openinverter
• ISA library
• Leaf inverter driver by Celeron55

What we have as of now is the openinverter wrapper with things like :

• Throttle cal and mapping,
• Precharge and contactor control,
• Temp derating,
• BMS limits,
• for/rev/neutral control,
• Graphing and monitoring,
• Firmware updates via the web interface,
• Cruise control,
• Fuel gauge driver,
• etc

Hardware

So you've ordered your kit, first things first, watch the following video to assemble it.

Due to chip shortages (written summer 2021) the board isn't fully assembled so you will need to do some soldering, or take it to a local phone repair shop (or similar) who'll find soldering at this scale like playing with Duplo.

The enclosure kit links:

Enclosure Kit with Header, connector and pins :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32857771975.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.39f24c4dWOmGPE

Prewired connector with 3M leads :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001213569338.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.366c3c00qhBvGO&mp=1

Note that in addition to the VCU, the inverter and transmission, you will require a specific canbus connected shunt: Isabellenhütte Heusler

Wiring information for the system, connector pinouts etc can be found here: Lexus GS450h Inverter

Pin Out Diagram

VCU pinout diagram

List of connections to system components

Software

https://github.com/damienmaguire/Stm32-vcu/tree/LIM_ST107

Supported OEM Hardware

• Nissan Leaf Gen1/2/3 Inverter/ motor
• nissan leaf gen 2 drive stack (inverter, dcdc, charger) gen 3 coming soon

• Lexus GS450H inverter / gearbox via sync serial
• Toyota Prius/Yaris/Auris Gen 3 inverters via sync serial
• chevy volt HV water heater
• BMW E46 CAN support
• BMW E39 CAN support
• BMW E65 CAN Support
• CCS DC Fast Charge via BMW i3 LIM