VCU Comparison
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A VCU can mean many things, but for the purposes of this page, a VCU means any programmable 12V controller that is designed or found to be useful in an EV conversion.
While "Primary use case" tells you what these controllers are intended for, the other fields tell you what they're capable of when configured or re-programmed for your use case.
In the spirit of open source, controllers with open source features are added leftmost on the table.
To-do
- Add other VCUs that have been used by people on the openinverter forums
- Fill in missing info
- Add links
Add open source VCUs:
- johu's stm32-car (https://github.com/jsphuebner/stm32-car)
Add closed source VCUs:
- AEM VCU200 (https://www.aemev.com/products/ev-vehicle-control-units/vcu200) and VCU300 (https://www.aemev.com/products/ev-vehicle-control-units/vcu300)
- Engovis EVS-VCU (https://citini.com/product/evs-vehicle-control-unit/)
- Thunderstruck VCU - for the Nissan Leaf, UQM, and Coda motors (https://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/dilithium-vcu.html)
- Resolve-EV Resolve Controller (https://www.resolve-ev.com/shop/p/resolve-controller)
The comparison table
| Comparison | ZombieVerter | GEVCU7 | Mini-E-VCU | iPDM56v1.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open source software (link) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source hardware (link) | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Schematics and board layouts (link) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| In stock (link) | Yes | Yes | No | 2023-02 |
| Price inc. VAT + shipping + enclosure | 350€ | 1500€ | ~80€ | 140€ |
| External connector pins | 56 | 48 | 56 | |
| External connector pin size (A) | 5A? | ? | 6A/12A | 5A? |
| Primary use case | Inverter control including Toyota | CAN inverter control, logging | Outlander inverter | Power distribution, I/O extension |
| Software platform | libopeninv | Arduino | Arduino | Arduino |
| External configuration interface | Wifi | Bluetooth, Wifi, USB serial | ? | USB serial, TTL serial |
| Configuration format | Parameter list | ? | Arduino sketch, ready-made | Arduino sketch, template |
| Out-of-the box supported inverter brands | OpenInverter, Nissan, Toyota, Lexus, Outlander? | DMOC, CODA, Brusa, PM100, C300 | Outlander | None |
| Official companion modules | No | No | aot93's BMS and dash | No |
| MCU family | STM32F1 | iMXRT1062 | iMXRT1062(Teensy) | AVR |
| Flash | ? | 16MB | 16MB | 32kB |
| RAM | ? | 1024kB | 1024kB | 2kB |
| Supply voltage range | 8...16V | |||
| Standby mode description | 6mA running Arduino sketch at slow clock speed | |||
| Buses | 3x CAN, 1x Toyota, 1x LIN, 1x RS232? | 3x CAN | ? | 2x CAN |
| Number of inputs | 10? | 12 | ? | 14 |
| Analog inputs (including throttle and external NTC channels) | 6? | 8 | ? | 5 |
| PWM inputs | 2 | |||
| Additional special inputs | ? | ? | ? | 12V battery voltage monitoring |
| Signal PWM outputs | 1? | 0 | ||
| Power PWM outputs (low / high side, A) | 3x L ?A | 4x L 3A | ||
| Low-side power outputs, total A | 5A? (limited by ground pin) | 16A | ? | 20A |
| Low-side power outputs, count | 9? | 8 | ? | 10 |
| High-side power outputs, total A | ? | ? | ? | 15A |
| High-side power outputs, count | ? | ? | ? | 10 |
| Analog outputs | 2x AC coupled, 2x digital resistors | ? | ? | 2x 0-500mA low side slow |
| Sensor power outputs | 5V | 5V 700mA, 3.3V 400mA | ? | 5V 500mA |
| Outputs readable as inputs | 8 | |||
| Customizable jumpers/resistors | 0? | ? | ? | 32 |
| Used in projects (links) | Pretty much everything Damien does | celeron55's Omega |