Comparative Analysis of Motors Used in Electric Vehicles

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are preferred for electric vehicle (EV) drive systems due to their high efficiency and high torque density. Synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM) and permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motors (PMa-SynRM), on the other hand, offer a cost-effective alternative that reduces the use of rare earth elements. On the other hand, in electrically driven synchronous machine (EESM) topologies, there is the advantage of greater flexibility in field weakening. Asynchronous motors (IM), another type of motor used in EVs, stand out as a robust and cost-effective alternative requiring less material. Also, brushless DC motors (BLDCM) used in EVs offer easier controllability and high dynamic response capability but exhibit lower efficiency and more pronounced torque ripple behavior compared to PMSM motors. On the other hand, the switched reluctance motor (SRM) used in EVs stands out for its robustness and simple structure, but it has been observed to exhibit high noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) behavior. Axial flow permanent magnet motors (AFPM), while showing promising results in terms of specific power density, require improvements in thermal and mechanical design. In this study, the types of motors used in EVs have been comprehensively compared and analyzed. This analysis is based on the efficiency, torque density, cost, and operating characteristics of the motors. Alternative motor types have been identified for PMSM, which is at the center of the compared motors, in terms of increased efficiency and cost reduction. Additionally, new focal points have been presented for scientific studies to be conducted.