Analysis and Control of an Axial Flux Motor for Small Electric Traction System Florin Jurca, Daniel Fodorean Electrical Machines and Drives, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca Address: Memorandumului 28, Cluj-Napoca, 400114, Cluj (Romania) florin.jurca@emd.utcluj.ro Abstract— the paper presents the performances’ analysis for an axial-flux permanent magnet synchronous machine designed for the propulsion of a special light electric vehicle. The analysis of the studied machine is made analytically and numerically. A special attention will be considered for the torque ripples decrease. The obtained results of the proposed solution will be related to an electric scooter dedicated for people with reduced mobility. Keywords: axial flux, permanent magnet, small electric vehicle, machine design, skewed technology. I. INTRODUCTION Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Motors (AFPM) have become an interesting choice in using them as small power motors in various applications because of their compact design, high power density and the possibility of adjusting the air-gap to maximize the performances. One of these applications is a small electrical scooter, usually used by people with physical disabilities. The research in the field of individual transportation of people with physical disabilities is not a common topic in the scientific community. At European level, the research in this field is not really advanced, since other projects are rather oriented to the access to public transportation of people with physical disabilities. Technologically, there are three solutions for individual transportation of people with reduced mobility: the manual wheel chair, the powered electrical wheel chair and, the recent solution, the electrical scooter dedicated for people with limited mobility. Each solution offers a certain degree of independency and can be used by people with a certain degree of mobility (e.g., the electric scooter can be used by people who can move both their arms). The cost for such equipments varies from 250 € (the manual wheel chair) and 1500 €– 12000 € for electrically powered wheel chairs or scooters, based on maximal load, type of batteries, control and energy management, complexity, operability (horizontal/vertical movement of the chair, pneumatic suspension, left/right handed option, sensors) etc. The authors are intending to equip a common electric scooter, bought from the market, with a new motorization, battery and energy management strategy. The goal is to obtain an increased autonomy of the special electric scooter (by keeping the price within the market limits). The electrical machine under study here is magnet synchronous machine with axial flux (AFPM). These machines offer many unique features. They are usually more efficient comparative with radial-flux permanent-magnet and induction machines because of the fact that field excitation losses are eliminated resulting in significant rotor loss reduction. Thus, the motor efficiency is greatly improved and higher power density is achieved. Moreover, PM motors have small magnetic thickness which results in small magnetic dimensions. As for the axial flux PM machines, they have a number of distinct advantages over radial flux machines (RFM). They can be designed to have a higher power-to- weight ratio resulting in less core material. Axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) synchronous machines have been studied with increasing interest during 1990’s, mainly because the AFPM synchronous machine structure and performance fit very well into the requirements of the electrical vehicles. The main topologies of the AFPM machine are presented in Fig. 1.[1], [4]. (a) (b) Fig. 1. Main topologies of axial flux PM synchronous machines. a) AFPM machine, b) AFIPM machine [4]. In the present paper we analyse the second structure with two stators and one rotor disc with permanent magnet. By using this machine with parallel connected stators, it can operate at reduced load even if one of the stator is damaged.