PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRACTION ENGINES OF PASSENGER ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract

Analysis of the history of the development of electric passenger cars shows that large-scale
industrial production of electric transport began relatively recently, about 20 years ago. Given that the life
cycle of a passenger car average of 10-15 years, it becomes possible to assess the advantages and
disadvantages of operating various types of traction engines for electric vehicles.
Analysis of the articles shows that most of the large manufacturers prefer to equip their electric vehicles
with permanent magnet synchronous traction engines. This engine most fully meets the main criteria for a
traction drive, such as small dimensions, high efficiency, and reliability. However, 20 years of operation
have revealed several technical and economic problems associated with this engine.
The main technical problem is the impossibility of regulating the magnetic flux and the impossibility of
turning it off during the emergency operation of the engine. In modern synchronous traction engines with
magnetoelectric excitation, this drawback had been nearly eliminated, but an analysis of the articles shows
that over time the reliability of its control system begins to decline.
An economic problem is associated with the constant growth of the cost of permanent magnets. Thus for
the last 20 years, it has increased significantly.
All this stimulates manufacturers to look for alternatives to this engine. They consider the synchronous
reluctance engine with magnetization, the synchronous engine with electromagnetic excitation, and an
asynchronous engine as such alternatives. Comparative analysis shows that these engines are cheaper than
a permanent magnet engine, but they are inferior to it in compare to weight and dimensions, and reliability.
The works on this matter will be continued in the coming years, that is why a revival of interest in DC
traction engine and synchronous inductor motors can be expected. Also of great interest is the work on the
creation of self-sensing (without the use of a position or speed sensor) control systems.