Design, Optimization and Experimental Study of Axial and Hub BLDC Motors in-Wheel Application for Light Electric Vehicles

The use of brushless DC (BLDC) motors in electric vehicles have been rapidly increasing. In this study performance analysis was made for BLDC motors used in wheel applications in light electrical vehicles on issues such as efficiency, speed, and power density. In this study, two types of BLDC motors, axial flux (AF) and hub (outer rotor-radial flux) motor were simulated, optimized, and experimented. Both of them were studied considering multi-parameter objectives mainly, stator yoke flux density, rotor yoke flux density, air gap flux density, efficiency, torque/weight, and speed. The credibility of the models performed has been confirmed by comparing the results of simulation and measurement on rated values 10 kW, 72V (Axial) and 1 kW, 50V (Hub) 3 phase, star connected motors. To optimize the motor design comprehensively, a genetic algorithm (GA) has been realized for each motor. The design, optimization, and realization of the study are given in detail pointing out some important data on BLDC motors.