MOTOR SELECTION CRITERIA

- Vehicle characteristics
The properties of the vehicle such as size, weight, overload and aerodynamics are crucial
vehicle characteristics that will ultimately determine speed, torque and power
requirements of the electric motor. These aspects will help understand the effects of the
operating conditions of the vehicle and are essential to the selection of the right
powertrain.
- Driving cycles
How is the vehicle being used is also very important. What will be the usual driving cycles
of the vehicle? Will it be driven in an urban area with many stops? Will it be driven on long
distances with only a few stops? All of this will help to determine the battery pack size and
ultimately impact the choice of the powertrain.
- Top speed
What is the targeted maximum speed of the vehicle? How long does it have to be
sustained, maybe it is used only for passing? This is also another aspect in selection of
motor as well as battery pack.
- Peak torque
The maximum torque enables the vehicle to start in a given slope. There is also need to
find the highest grade the vehicle will need to ascend. Using that grade, it is possible to
calculate the highest torque required by the electric motor considering the gearbox (if
using a gearbox). Maximum weight is also to be taken into consideration.
- Peak Power
Some grades need to be climbed at a minimum speed, some others don’t. Sometimes the
maximum power is found simply at maximum speed (this is the case where the vehicle as
a large frontal area or goes at very high speed). This translates to having a motor powerful
enough to go through all the different conditions the vehicle can be submitted to. The
maximum power enables the vehicle to reach and maintain a constant speed under
stringent slope and speed conditions. To calculate the maximum power, you need to have
a simulator that takes in account the drag and friction coefficients of the vehicle in
addition to the forces needed for the climb. Again, the duration of the condition also
matters: contrary to combustion engines, the peak power of the electric motor cannot
be sustained continuously and it would be over engineered to select the electric motor to
be able to do the worst hill climb conditions with no time constraints.
- System Voltage
The system voltage is dependent on the size of the vehicle. As the system voltage
increases, the current output is lowered. So, in the cases where the vehicle continuous
power is high like in bigger vehicles, you want to keep the size of the conductors at a
manageable level by increasing the system voltage.
- Transmission? yes or no
Will the powertrain architecture require a gearbox? Do you want to save the costs related
to implementing a transmission or/and simplify your system? Some electric powertrain
offers a direct-drive approach i.e. the high torque/low speed of the motor allows it to
directly interface with standard axle differentials without the need for an intermediate
gearbox. While improving system reliability and reducing overall maintenance costs,
removing the transmission in an electric vehicle also increases the powertrain’s efficiency
considerably, allowing optimal use of the energy stored in the battery pack.
- Cost
Last but the most important factor for the Indian market is the cost. Whether the motor
is able to justify the cost or performance of the vehicle.

Requirements of Motor for 2W

- High power density

For a 2W, the weight and space are the major constraints, hence the need for motor with
more power density arises.
- High torque at low speeds
As the 2W will mostly be driven in urban areas, the stop-go conditions will be more
frequent and hence more torque is needed at low speeds.
- Wide speed range
There are ebkes in the market with a top speed of 25km/h but this wont be sufficient for
daily commuters and so the speeds will go higher and the need of broad speed range.
- Fast torque response
The urban commuting may involve constantly changing demands sometimes for
overtaking, gradient, etc. So the motor should response quickly to these change in the
demand.
- High efficiency over wide speed range
Based on the above discussion, if the motor is functioning at various torque-power region,
it needs to be efficient ideally in all of the zones.
- Compact and less weight
For a 2W, the space is problem, so the motor needs to be lighter and compact to save
storage and reduce the GVW.
- High reliability
- Reasonable cost