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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Electronically commutated dc motors for electric vehicles

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6615628

A motor development program to explore the feasibility of electronically commutated dc motors (also known as brushless) for electric cars is described. Two different design concepts and a number of design variations based on these concepts are discussed. One design concept is based on a permanent magnet, medium-speed, machine rated at 7000 to 9000 rpm and powered via a transistor-inverter power conditioner. The other concept is based on a permanent magnet, high-speed, machine rated at 22,000 to 26,000 rpm and powered via a thyristor-inverter power conditioner. Test results are presented for a medium-speed motor and for a high-speed motor each of which have been fabricated using samarium-cobalt permanent magnet material.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-77CS51044
OSTI ID:
6615628
Report Number(s):
DOE/NASA/51044-14; CONF-810206-6; NASA-TM-81654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English