A cast copper rotor induction motor for small commercial EV traction: Electromagnetic design, analysis, and experimental tests

Abstract

According to the demands of the small commercial electric vehicle (EV) traction driving system, an 18kW inverter-driven induction motor (IM) with a die-casting copper squirrel cage rotor for traction drive was designed and evaluated. The 2D finite element model of the designed IM was built by considering the nonlinearity of core materials, and the geometric parameters of the motor were optimized. The operational performance of torque versus speed characteristics and the efficiency over the speed range under the rated (continuous) and overload condition were investigated. Finally, the designed inverter-driven IM was developed and the performance of the IM operating in three typical modes were tested respectively. The experimental results of the designed motor operating in various driven mode were compared with that of 2D FEM. All the results proved that the designed inverter-driven IM could meet the target specification of the small commercial EV. Index