Traction motor could improve efficiency of electric vehicles
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GE researchers have developed a traction motor for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) that they claim delivers higher power density and better efficiency at a lower cost.
The company recently tested a prototype of its interior permanent magnet traction motor, developed as part of a $5.6m (£3.5m) US Department of Energy project to extend the range of EVs and hybrids.
According to a statement, the motor operates at a peak power output of 55kW, delivering nearly twice the power density, and thus acceleration, of existing EV motors.
It is also around three to five per cent more efficient since the required torque is achieved using much lower DC bus voltage — as low as 200V versus 650V in existing motors.
Most significantly, GE claims the motor operates continuously at 105ºC over a wide speed range (2,800–14,000rev/min at 30kW) and can be cooled with engine coolant.
The elimination of a separate cooling system, which most EVs rely on, allows the vehicle to be lighter, which directly translates into greater range.
‘This is a significant accomplishment. We at GE are pushing the boundaries to build more robust, yet more efficient, motors for hybrid and fully electric platforms,’ said Ayman El-Refaie, electrical engineer in GE Global Research’s Electrical Machines Lab. ‘We have built a motor that is substantially more powerful than what’s commercially available now, all while improving efficiency by up to five per cent.’
Readers' comments (5)
JohnK | 1 Aug 2012 2:47 pm
"cooled with engine coolant" - Are we to take it that the Electric motor(s) could for instance be incorporated into the sump/gearbox of the IC engine in a Hybrid configuration. There seems little gain if the Electric motors are hub mounted. Once again a paucity of information frustrates rather than informs.
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Andy H | 1 Aug 2012 3:19 pm
As JohnK stated, without weight or volume and what it was compared to the numbers are meaningless.
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Phil C | 2 Aug 2012 2:43 pm
The Engineer really must be careful about this sort of product write-up. It is very much an unsubstantiated advert for GE research. As many working in the motor design sector will understand, the information given in the article could mean anything without proper scrutiny.
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Mike Swift | 3 Aug 2012 11:41 pm
An almost useless write-up. The only thing said about this motor is that for, “part of a $5.6 project”, GE took its previously developed motor, and made it run up-to 14,000 rpm at 105ºc, and as low as 200 volts. It is, “ more powerful”, and improves efficiency by “up-to”, five per cent, note that zero is in the range of “up-to”. This sounds more like a sales pitch than useful information.
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Ian D | 8 Aug 2012 12:08 pm
It would be useful to have more details so that I can assess this technology. Could you put me in touch with the people concerned at GE?
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Editor's comments | 8 Aug 2012 12:08 pm
We don't have direct contact details but a web search for the spokesman Ayman El-Refaie at GE Global Research should help you.