Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2013
This paper deals with the development of a new generation of electric motors (7.5–15 kW) for automotive powertrains. The target is a full electric direct drive vehicle, for the particular application to heavy quadricycles. An original axial flux PM structure is proposed due to the simplicity of its manufacturing. However it leads to a 3D structure, difficult to study. The paper deals with analytical models that can be used to achieve the analysis and the sizing of the motor. The electromagnetic behavior is modeled using a simple magnetic equivalent network and the thermal behavior is analyzed with a thermal network. Finally, the analytical results are compared to those experimentally obtained and it proves the interest of the proposed structure: the construction is simple and the performances are satisfying.