ree&pqj2

 
Comparison between a surface permanent magnet synchronous motor and a segmented stator switched reluctance motor with aluminum windings for light electric traction

Pere Andrada

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC-BARCELONATECH,
Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain

ftf

2026-01-20


im4

Abstract

Nowadays, light electric vehicles are usuallypowered by drives with motors that use rare-earth permanent magnets. Nevertheless, due to the problems these materials present, light electric vehicle manufacturers are open to considering other alternative drives free of permanent magnets. This paper raises a comprehensive comparison between a surface permanent magnet synchronous motor and a segmented stator switched reluctance motor with aluminum windings for light electric traction, specifically for a motorcycle similar to the Super Soco TCmax.

Key words: Light electric vehicles, Power-train, Permanent magnet synchronous drives, Switched reluctance motor drives.

Published in: Renewable Energies, Environment & Power Quality Journal (REE&PQJ)
ISSUE: Vol. 24. No. 3 Pages: 339-343
E-ISSN: 3020-531 X Date of Current Version: 2026-01-02
REF: 157 Issue Date: 2026-01-26
DOI:10.24084/reepqj24-157 Publisher: AEDERMACP/ EA4EPQ

References

[1] Electric mobility in a nutshell. Federal Ministry of Transportation and Digital Infrastructure. https://www.bmvi.de/EN/Topics/Mobility/Electric-Mobility/Electric-Mobility-In-A-Nutshell/electric-mobility-in-a-nutshell.html

[2] Directive 2007/46/EC, consolidated version of 31 March 2018 (contains amendments and corrections up to and including Commission Regulation 2017/2400).

[3] Navigant Research. Executive Summary: “Light Electric vehicles, low speed/neighborhood EVs, electrical motorcycles, and electric scooters: global market analysis and forecasts”. Published 1Q 2017.

[4] Sachs, S. Burandt, S. Mandelj, R. Mutter. “Assessing the market of light electric vehicles as a potential application for electric in-wheel drives”. Electric Drives Production Conference, EDCP 2016, pp 280-285.

[5] P. Andrada, B. Blanqué, E. Martinez, M.Torrent, J.A. Sánchez, J.I. Perat. “Electric drives for light e-scooters”. ICREPQ 2013 Bilbao (Spain), 20th to 22th March, 2013. DOI.ORG/10.24084/REPQJ11.471.

[6] Y. Tang, J. J. H. Paulides, I. J. M. Besselink , F. Gardner , E. A. Lomonova. “Indirect Drive In-Wheel System for HEV/EV Traction”. EVS27 Barcelona, Spain, November 17-20, 2013. DOI: 10.1109/EVS.2013.6915011.

[7] S.Langkau and M.Erdmann. “Environmental impacts of the future supply for magnet applications”. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2021:25. pp. 1034-1050. DOI. org/10.1111/jiec.13090.

[8] S. Estenlund, M. Alaküla, A. Reinap. “PM-less machine topologies for EV traction: A literature
review”. ESARS ITEC 2016, Toulouse France 1-4, Nov. 2016. DOI:10.1109/ESARSTEC.2016.7841341.

[9] J.D. Widmer, R. Martin, M, Kimiabeigi,” Electric vehicle traction motors without rare earth magnets”. Sustainable Materials and Technologies 3 (2015) 7-13. DOI.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2015.02.001.

[10] T. Jahns. “Getting rare-earth magnets out of EV traction machines: a review of the many approaches being pursued to minimize or eliminate rare earth magnets from future EV drive trains”. IEEE Electrification Magazine, Issue 1, March 2017, pp. 6-18. DOI: 10.1109/MELE.2016.2644280.

[11] Zhi Yang, Fei Shang, Ian P. Brown and Mahesh Krishnamurthy. “Comparative Study of Interior Permanent Magnet, Induction, and Switched Reluctance Motor Drives for EV and HEV Applications”. IEEE Transactions and Transportation Electrification, Vol. 1, No. 3, October 2015, pp. 245-254. DOI: 10.1109/TTE.2015.2470092.

[12] T. Raminosoa, D. A. Torrey, A. El-Refaie, D, Pan, S. Grubic, K. Grace. “Robust non-permanent magnet motors for vehicle propulsion”. 2015 IEEE IEMDC. pp- 496 - 502. DOI: 10.1109/IEMDC.2015.7409104.

[13] El-Refaie, T. Raminosoa, P.Reddy, S.Galioto, D. Pan, K. Grace, J. Alexander, K.Kanghuh. “Comparison of traction motors that reduce or eliminate rare-earth materials”. 2016 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), pp. 1-8, DOI: 10.1109/ECCE.2016.7854945.

[14] SRM drives for electric traction. Edited by Pere Andrada. Iniciativa Digital Politècnica 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/2117/187821.

[15] K. Wang, Z. Q. Zhu, G. Ombach, M. Koch, S. Zhang, and J. Xu. “Electromagnetic Performance of an 18-Slot/10-Pole Fractional-Slot Surface-Mounted Permanent-Magnet Machine”. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 50, No. 6, November/December 2014, pp.3685-3696 DOI: 10.1109/TIA.2014.2316362.

[16] P. Andrada. “Design of a segmented switched reluctance drive for a light electric vehicle”. Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal Volume No 20, September 2022. DOI.org/10.24084/repqj20.394

[17] P. Andrada, B. Blanqué, M. Torrent, P. Kobeaga. “Segmented Stator Switched Reluctance Motor Drive for Light Electric Vehicle”. Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering Research. Vol 3, No 1, 2023. DOI: 10.53375/ijecer.2023.321.

[18] J.D. Widmer, R. Martin, B.C. Mecrow. “Precompressed and stranded aluminum motor windings for traction motors”. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications. Vol. 52, No 3, May/June 2016, pp. 2215-2223. DOI: 10.1109/TIA.2016.2528226.

[19] Sahin, C. (2023). “Comparison of aluminum and copper winding materials for switched reluctance machines with finite element analysis”. Ingeniería e Investigación, 43 No 2, August 2023. DOI .org/10.15446/ing. investig.102038.

[20] P. Andrada, B. Blanqué, M. Capó, G. Gross, D. Montesinos. “Switched Reluctance Motor Controller for Light Electric Vehicles”. 2018 20th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'18 ECCE Europe), 2018. P1-P11.

 
logos0
 
br

| Main | Articles | Publication-Regulations | Committees | Publication-Ethics | Open-Access | Fees | Background |

REE&PQJ is edited by:

European Association for the Development of Renewable Energies, Environment and Power Quality (EA4EPQ/AEDERMACP)

ICREPQ

Copyright © 2025 EA4EPQ All rights are reserved