Optimal Modulation for Enhanced Performance of Electric Vehicle Drive Trains

This article proposes an optimal modulation scheme that improves the performance of drive trains used in electric vehicles (EVs). To this aim, the proposed optimized pulse patterns (OPPs) are computed by minimizing the stator current harmonic distortions while limiting the harmonic winding and converter switching losses. To ensure that the most favorable tradeoff between current distortions and system efficiency is achieved, the proposed OPPs are computed based on a model that accurately accounts for the anisotropy of the machine and the eddy current effects on its windings and ohmic losses. The proposed OPPs are assessed experimentally with an industrial drive system, and their benefits are clearly demonstrated via comparisons with space vector modulation (SVM) and conventional isotropic OPPs.