• What limitations of IPM machines are most critical to address in the next generation of EVs?
• Which alternative motor topologies (e.g. axial flux, SRM, dual-rotor, etc.) are most promising—and why?
• How do material cost, rare-earth dependency, and sustainability shape motor selection today?
• Can a “one-size-fits-all” e-motor approach serve both passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles?
• What role does system-level co-design (inverter, gearbox, cooling) play in enabling alternatives?

In the competitive automotive market, the demand for high-performance, high-efficiency and cost-effective technologies requires compact and efficient electric drive units with a high level of torque torque-to-volume ratio. The main motor topology used in e-mobility traction since the beginning of the century has therefore been single-rotor Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) machines. The interesting features of IPM motors compared to alternative motor topologies, e.g., the relatively high torque density, high efficiency and wide field-weakening capability, has led vehicle OEMs to select this technology in the last more than 20 years. However, the market sees major difficulties with the application of single-rotor interior permanent magnet machines due to their higher cost, high weight and also high CO2 emissions. Additionally, this motor topology, despite its high efficiency at higher torque operating points, does not provide an acceptable efficiency at low torque and high-speed operating points. This indeed impacts the vehicle range and energy consumption on highways where access to chargers is more limited than in urban areas.

You will hear more about:

• How vehicle-level efficiency targets influence core motor architecture decisions
• The unique advantages and challenges of In-Wheel Motors in modern EV platforms
• Importance of cross-functional, agile development in achieving optimized, integrated solutions