Electric Motors in Electrified Transportation: A step toward achieving a sustainable and highly efficient transportation system

Abstract

The transportation sector is one of the largest energy users, and the main source of energy in our transportation system is still fossil fuels. As an example, in the United States, 98% of transportation energy comes from oil, but most of it is wasted due to the low efficiency of con-ventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. To-day's low fuel efficiencies make the automotive industry one of largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. In this article, the multidisciplinary nature of electric traction motors is investigated and related design issues are presented for interior permanent magnet (PM), induction, and switched reluctance machines (SRMs). These are the commonly considered machine types for traction applications, although the PM machine is the most widely used type in currently available electrified vehicles. The operating principles of these machines were also be explained.