1/17/22, 8:35 AM 1.4 EV Motors | 1. How does an EV work?
| Electric Cars: Technology | edX
Selecting the power rating of an electric machine for use within an EV depends on
the vehicle mass and the desired acceleration performance. Many types of electric
machines exist, which can be used to provide the necessary propulsion power.
Some general requirements of electric machines for use within both (P)HEV’s and
EVs, are as follows:
Ease of control
Fault tolerance
High efficiency
High power at high speed (cruising)
High power density
High low-speed torque (accelerating)
Peak torque 2-3 times the continuous torque rating
Extended constant power region of operation
Low acoustic noise Low Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Electric machine design should be optimized so that the kinetic energy of the
vehicle generates as much electrical power as possible and that the stored energy
from the battery can be delivered to the road wheels as efficiently as possible. EV
motors differ from industrial motors, as they generally require high low-speed
torque, enabling the vehicle to meet acceleration requirements. A wide range of
operating speed is also required. In contrast, industrial motors are generally
optimized for specific rated conditions and have less dynamic operating conditions.
As mentioned, there are only three types of motors that are being used in EVs
today:
Induction motor
Permanent magnet motor
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Synchronous reluctance motor
Brushed DC motor
Let’s start with the simple, classic brushed DC motor. This motor has a stator and a
rotor with an electric coil in it. When this coil is connected with the battery,
producing a direct current, the coil produces a magnetic field which causes the rotor
to rotate to have the poles face the opposite poles of the permanent magnets in the
stator. To keep this momentum, the polarity of the coils is switched. The image
shows how this works.
Image Source: By Abnormaal [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
As Auke mentioned, there are only three types of motors that are being used in EVs
today:
Induction motors
Permanent magnet motors
Synchronous reluctance motors
Induction motor
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The AC induction motor needs no permanent magnets. Instead the magnetic field is
produced by a current that flows through the windings in the housing or stator. Now
if you connect the stator to an alternating current, this means the magnetic field in
the stator will also alternate. If a three phase AC input is used, a so called rotating
magnetic field or RMF is produced.
The magnetic field from the stator will induce a voltage and current in the windings
of the rotor. That’s why it’s called the induction motor. This in turn leads to the rotor
producing its own magnetic field, and this magnetic field will make the rotor turn so
as to align itself with the magnetic field from the stator. The rotor will follow this
rotating magnetic field in the stator, without the need for a commutator with brushes.
Image source: By BurnsBurnsBurns [CC BY 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
Advantages Disadvantages
Simple and rugged Induced currents in rotor cause losses and heat
No brushes Not the lightest and most compact motor
No permanent magnet
No position sensor
No starting mechanism
Easy speed control
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1/17/22, 8:35 AM 1.4 EV Motors | 1. How does an EV work? | Electric Cars: Technology | edX
Permanent magnet motor
If we construct a rotor with permanent magnets, we no longer need to induce a
magnetic field in the rotor. This avoids losses and heat development in the rotor.
Because of all this, permanent magnet motors are currently the smallest and
lightest electric motors you can buy. Because the rotor is already magnetized it is
always in sync with the rotating magnetic field. That’s why permanent magnet
motors are also classified as synchronous motors.
Image source: InstaSPIN™-BLDC Motor Control Solution - Courtesy of Texas
Instruments.
Advantages Disadvantages (needs)
Light and small Permanent magnets (cost + environment + can
demagnetise)
Silent Position sensor
Efficient (esp at lower speeds) Starter mechanism
Electronic controller
Synchronous reluctance motor
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The synchronous reluctance motor has only recently been developed and seems to
have best of both worlds. It has a rotor that contains metal that is formed in such a
way that it wants to align itself naturally to the surrounding magnetic field. This
means it doesn’t need to produce its own electric field through induced currents, like
the induction motor, whicht means less losses. Finally, it doesn’t need permanent
magnets which makes it much cheaper than a permanent magnet motor.
Image source: Synchronous Reluctance Motor – Technelec
Advantages Disadvantages
Torque comparable to permanent magnet motor Lower efficiencies at lower speeds
Efficient at higher speeds Higher inherent noise and torque ripple (but
increasingly dampened by advanced controllers)
Cheap and clean to produce (no permanent
magnets)
Comparison
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1/17/22, 8:35 AM 1.4 EV Motors | 1. How does an EV work? | Electric Cars: Technology | edX
Evaluating the benefits of different machine designs for use within BEV’s is a
complex process. In:
Zeraoulia, M., Benbouzid, M.E.H., and Diallo, D., (2006). Electric Motor Drive
Selection Issues for HEV Propulsion Systems: A Comparative Study. IEEE
Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 1756-1764
a scoring system was applied to the four main types of electric machines used in
BEV’s, the results of which are shown in the figure. It was concluded that both
induction motors and permanent magnet motors are the most suitable, and it was
suggested that both technologies could be applied to achieve an optimum BEV
driveline configuration.
An overview is also provided of the various electric machine technologies applied to
currently available PHEV’s and BEV’s in:
L. Kumar and S. Jain (2014). Electric propulsion system for electric vehicular
technology: A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 29, pp. 924–940
as shown in the figure below.
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1/17/22, 8:35 AM 1.4 EV Motors | 1. How does an EV work? | Electric Cars: Technology | edX
Image source: L. Kumar and S. Jain, “Electric propulsion system for electric
vehicular technology: A review,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 29, pp. 924–
940, Jan. 2014.
Torque-speed characteristics of a motor
With reference to figure, electric machines are sometimes characterized with
respect to the speed range, constant torque range and constant power range. At
speeds above the base speed, the torque decreases resulting in a constant power.
The effects of extending the constant power operating region of an electric machine
on the performance of a simple BEV model were examined in:
Moore, S.W., Rahman, K.M., and Ehsani, M., Effect on Vehicle Performance of
Extending the Constant Power Region of Electric Drive Motors. SAE 1999-01-
1152.
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Performance parameters examined were acceleration time and distance, and
overtaking time and distance. For high speed cruising, it was generally found that
electric machines with higher extended range ratios (ratio of constant torque region
to constant power region), the acceleration time and distance increased.
Configuration of motor layout
Single motor configuration
Dual motor configuration
A number of motor configurations are possible for EV’s, which provides more
flexibility for the driveline layout. Single motor configurations use one motor that
drives either the front or rear axles.
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1/17/22, 8:35 AM 1.4 EV Motors | 1. How does an EV work? | Electric Cars: Technology | edX
With a dual motor configuration, two motors are used to drive the EV and this can
be done in different ways. One possibility is that one motor can power the front axle
and the other the rear axle. Second, both the motors can be placed on either the
front or rear axle to provide increased torque compared to the single motor
configuration. Although, most EV manufacturers currently adopt the single motor
configuration, the dual motor configuration has also been used for vehicle models
with higher torque capability.
In-wheel motor configuration
Using a separate motor to drive each of the four wheels independently is another
possibility. This can be achieved using an in-wheel where the motor that is placed
within the wheel of the car. The in-wheel motors can be either geared or gearless,
as represented in the figure. The gearless option has the potential to improve the
overall efficiency of the driveline, but additional controller complexity and hardware
required make such a system more complex. A good example is the in-wheel drive
system used in a concept Ford Fiesta with the following specifications: 700 Nm,
2x40 kW, 45 kg motor, with wheel 53 kg. You can click here for more information
about this motor.
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