Baseline Determination for Drive Cycle Performance Analysis of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors

The popularity of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) in electric vehicles (EVs) can be attributed to their impressive power and torque density, high-speed capabilities, and quick dynamic response. In contrast, Induction Motors (IMs) are known for their cost-effectiveness, robustness, ease of control, and superior performance at higher speeds. These motors also differ in terms of rotor losses, overload capacities, application, and industry standards. In the context of analyzing the overall performance of electric drives with these machines across various torque-speed operating points, significant computational effort and time are required. To address this, torque-speed performance maps, also known as efficiency maps, are commonly utilized. However, as these maps are primarily constructed for steady-state operation, their reliability in analyzing transient conditions remains uncertain. This paper presents a baseline for the assessment of the confidence in performance analysis using performance map-based approaches compared to time-stepping analysis of dynamic drive cycles. The evaluation is conducted using a laboratory-based PMSM as an example case. Popular drive cycles for modern traction motors are scaled down to match the PMSM specifications for laboratory testing. Efficiency determination of the drive cycle is carried out using analytic, numerical, and experimental approaches, enabling the extension of the findings to the real-world EV applications.