Optimized fractional-order direct torque control with space vector modulation strategy for two-wheel-drive electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a sustainable and efficient transportation choice, offering zero emissions, lower operating costs, and advanced performance features like instant torque and regenerative braking. They promote energy independence, improve urban livability, and support the global shift toward cleaner, renewable energy-powered mobility, making them a future-proof investment. The electric motor is a critical component in electric vehicles (EVs), the importance of which lies in its high efficiency, instant torque delivery, and smooth operation, which enhances performance and energy use. This paper focuses on a two-wheel drive electric vehicle (TWD EV) configuration powered by an energy storage battery system (ESBS), driven by two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), and controlled using direct torque control with space vector modulation (DTC-SVM). fractional-order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controllers, optimized via the grey wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithm, are implemented for precise speed control of the PMSMs. An electronic differential (ED) is incorporated to ensure vehicle stability, safety, and performance. The simulation results show that the proposed GWO-FOPID controller gave super results by reducing electromagnetic torque overshoot by 33%, improves torque settling time by 55%, and achieves the lowest electromagnetic torque ripple of approximately ±1 Nm compared to conventional DTC-SVM and GWO-PID approaches. Additionally, it optimized speed overshoot and undershoot by 44%, significantly enhancing system performance, responsiveness, and drive smoothness. This novel combination of fractional-order control, metaheuristic optimization, and electronic differential integration marks a meaningful advancement in high-precision and efficient control for 2WD EVs.