Overcoming the Challenges of Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Design

ANSYS

Thursday, December 15 2011

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) have been rapidly gaining traction in the global automobile market by providing high fuel efficiency and near-zero emissions at increasingly affordable prices. Many automobile original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are working on new HEV and EV designs; one of their greatest challenges is designing traction motors, which, in most cases, are interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous machines. Minimizing electrical and magnetic losses is critical to deliver maximum range and fuel efficiency to consumers. At the same time, engineers need to consider structural, thermal and electromagnetic issues that play a crucial role in vehicle performance, reliability and cost.