Interior Permanent Magnet Motors – Presenting the concept to OEM leaders

The 16^th International VDI Drivetrain Conference

Ashwoods Electric Motors and Oerlikon Fairfield were invited to present a paper entitled ‘Compact, High Efficiency Electric Drive System’ to some of the top OEM market leaders, Tier 1 suppliers, Researchers and Scientists in the world at the 16^th International VDI Conference Drivetrain for Vehicles 2016.  The conference took place on 21^st and 22^nd June 2016 at the Graf-Zeppelin-Haus in Friedrichshafen a beautiful location on the banks of Lake Constance, Germany.

VDI is a world leading training institute for Engineers and since it was first held in 1986 the Drivetrain Conference has grown in popularity across the industry. It has become a valuable networking hub and platform for experts from around the world to share and discuss new ideas and potential collaborations.

Interior permanent electric motors – a new approach

The paper submitted presents the project conducted by Ashwoods Electric Motors & Oerlikon Fairfield that uses a planetary drive with an integrated permanent magnet electric motor. The current solutions used in production off-highway vehicles today utilise large, heavy and inefficient brushed DC or induction motors coupled to a planetary gearbox. This presents a number of challenges to the vehicle designers such as: limited vehicle range, limited space around the motor/drivetrain and motor durability.

The integrated system proposed in the paper utilises an Oerlikon Fairfield Torque Hub widely used in off-highway vehicles and the Ashwoods first to market Interior Permanent Magnet motor. The way in which these products are integrated incorporating a brake solution offer a market changing product.

70% lighter, 70% smaller and 20% more efficient

Using Interior Permanent Magnet technology in the motor design means the motor can be up to 70% lighter, 70% smaller and 20% more efficient than the traditional motors used in off-highway traction applications. These features make the integrated system proposed in this paper a truly market changing solution.

Whilst exploring the existing solutions available, the paper outlines the performance the system can provide and draws comparisons whilst analysing applications it can be used within.

The half hour presentation was the ideal opportunity to showcase Ashwoods Interior Permanent Magnet Motor (IPM) and the benefits it offers. Interior permanent magnet motor technology and its integration into complimentary products is helping to put Ashwoods Electric Motors at the forefront of electric motor design and development.

More space for design flexibility

The International VDI conference provided the perfect platform to demonstrate the innovative design and durability of the IPM and how easily it could be integrated into automotive transmission systems, its potential to make some existing components redundant thus creating more space within a vehicle which offers more flexibility on its design and a more lightweight, highly efficient and low cost drive system as a whole.

See more in this press release from Oerlikon: Latest off-highway electric drive transmission technology co-presented by Oerlikon Fairfield at 2016 VDI International Congress

Watch this space for more innovative solutions from Ashwoods Electric Motors or call us on 01392 340 184 for more information!