Design and Optimization of a BLDC Motor for Small Power Vehicles

This paper aims to present the steps in designing of a BLDC motor for small power vehicles, in which the dimensions are imposed by adopting the direct-drive concept applied to a 12-inches wheel. The motorized small power vehicles legislation imposes a maximum power and a limited speed for certain skills in driving on the public streets. These are the initial condition in developing such kind of motors for electrical motorcycle.Using special software, the designed stage allows a parametric analysis to obtain an optimized mechanical solution and a good electromagnetic configuration of the in-wheel direct-drive motor. Skewed slot construction is adopted in the optimization process, which seems to be a good solution in the improvement of the cogging torque and also a possibility to increase the speed of the motor at low resistant torque, for this motor topology with 24 stator slots and 22 rotor permanent magnets.