A Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for Traction Applications of Electric Vehicles

This paper presents the design of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) for traction applications of electric vehicles (EVs). The design is based on the stator geometry of an existing commercial available induction traction motor. The rotor configurations considered in this study are the surface mounted magnet (SPM) and the inset permanent magnet (IPM) types. Both designs are investigated for the identical specification and their overall performances are compared with the existing asynchronous motors. A schematic block diagram of the design flow chart applied is illustrated. An analytical approach for calculating stator iron loss [1] is applied in the design procedure to ensure the required performance is reached. A thermal analysis of the prototype motor based on the lumped-circuit model and finite element analysis is also presented. Lastly, conclusions on the overall performance of PMSMs for electric vehicle applications are made and discussed.