Compact wheel direct drive for EVs

Concerning the application of slotless axial-flux PM motor (AFPMs) in electric vehicle drives, this article deals with the development of a 16-pole AFPM prototype which is used in the propulsion system of an electrical scooter. The proposed AFPM prototype has 45 Nm peak torque and 6.8 kg mass of active materials, and it is coupled directly to the scooter's rear wheel. In the following, the authors discuss the design and construction of the motor prototype and report experimental results taken from machine laboratory tests. Finally, they give details concerning the motor drive arrangement used in an electrical scooter prototype.