An inductive current transmission unit inside its rotor enables ultra-compact e-motor design, with performance said to be on par with PSM machines typically used in EVs, and the use of no magnets or rare earth materials increases supply security, sustainability, and efficiency.
At next week’s IAA Mobility show in Munich, ZF will focus its exhibit on electric mobility and vehicle motion control technologies. The company will feature its Porsche Taycan-based EVbeat electric concept vehicle with a powertrain designed for maximum compactness, low weight, and maximum efficiency using a new electric motor without magnets.
The advanced magnet-free concept of SESMs (separately excited synchronous motors) is an alternative to permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PSMs) most frequently used in EVs (electric vehicles) based on magnets that require rare earth materials for their production. The company’s I2SM (in-rotor inductive-excited synchronous motor) transmits energy for the magnetic field via an inductive exciter inside the rotor shaft.
This is said to make the motor more compact, with higher power and torque density. It eliminates the drag losses created in traditional PSM e-motors, enabling better efficiency at high speed.
“With this magnet-free e-motor without rare earth materials, we have another innovation with which we are consistently improving our electric drive portfolio to create even more sustainable, efficient, and resource-saving mobility,” said Dr.