Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of 60 kW PMSM, EESM, and SynRM for Electric Vehicle Traction Under Steady-State and Drive Cycle Conditions

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of three 60 kW traction motor topologies: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), Electrically Excited Synchronous Motor (EESM), and Synchronous Reluctance Motor (SynRM), designed and simulated using Altair Flux under Field Oriented Control. The analysis covers both steady state and dynamic conditions using the Indian Highway Drive Cycle (IHDC) to capture realistic EV operation. The PMSM delivers the highest rated efficiency of 96.87% and the lowest reactive power, enabling compact inverter sizing. However, at high speeds, its efficiency declines, while SynRM and EESM maintain elevated efficiencies of 95.25% and 95.57%, respectively. Although the three motors differ in power factor and control complexity, their real-world energy consumption remains closely matched. PMSM consumes 93.70 Wh/km, EESM follows with 94.24 Wh/km, and SynRM with 94.86 Wh/km. These values result in IHDC-based driving ranges of 266.87 km for PMSM, 265.27 km for EESM, and 263.57 km for SynRM using a 25-kWh battery. The magnet-free SynRM offers a cost advantage through reduced material dependence, while EESM provides flexible torque control through field excitation. These findings confirm that both SynRM and EESM are competitive alternatives to PMSM in EV applications, delivering comparable performance, cost benefits, and sustainability.