Title: A neighbourhood-electric vehicle development with individual traction on rear wheels

Authors: Guillermo A. Magallan, Cristian H. De Angelo, Guillermo O. Garcia

Addresses: Grupo de Electronica Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Argentina. ' Grupo de Electronica Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Argentina. ' Grupo de Electronica Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Argentina

Abstract: A simple traction control implementation of a Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is presented in this paper. An electronic differential traction control is performed using two independent field-oriented controlled Induction Motors (IMs) mounted in the rear wheels. In order to reproduce a mechanical differential behaviour, an equal-torque traction control is carried out using only the IM|s currents and speeds measurements. A basic self-blocking control is introduced to avoid uncontrolled wheel acceleration during equal-torque control action. The traction system allows energy recovery for batteries during vehicle braking through the IM|s regenerative braking. Standard industrial IMs are rewound to operate on safe low voltage (28 Vrms) and to use standard DC-Link 42V, while maintaining the original motor power. Two three-phase MosFet inverters are built for these motor power requirements. The whole system is controlled using a single digital signal processor, TMS320F2812. Experimental results for different vehicle manoeuvres are presented to validate the right traction control operation.

Keywords: electric vehicles; differential traction control; induction motor control; digital signal processing; DSP; DSP-based control prototype; rear wheel traction; energy recovery; batteries; vehicle braking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2009.029037

International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2009 Vol.2 No.2, pp.115 - 136

Published online: 29 Oct 2009 *

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