Investigation of Magnet Materials for In-Wheel BLDC Motors for Low-power Electric Vehicle Applications

The BLDC in-wheel motors are increasingly preferred for low-power electric vehicle applications due to their highly efficient mechanical energy conversion, high torque, and low maintenance compared to conventional BLDC motors. Additionally, they offer smooth operation, regenerative braking, and easy speed control. However, a key challenge in designing the rotor structure for in-wheel motors is managing heat, which can affect efficiency, and reliability, and lead to premature issues. This paper analyses three different magnet material analyses aimed at minimising losses and improving performances. These techniques include neodymium ferrite boron (NdFeB), samarium cobalt (SmCo), aluminium nickel cobalt (AlNiCo)and ferrite (Fe) material. A finite element model is employed to analyze motor solve software and study characteristics such as cogging torque, efficiency, speed-torque curve and magnetic field strength. Simulation results demonstrate that the exterior rotor with NdFeB magnet material enhances performance to meet the requirements for low-power electric vehicles.