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Electric Motor

Motor Layout

The Electric Motor component defines the propulsion characteristics for electric vehicles. It is only visible when the Power Source Type is set to Electric Vehicle on the Powertrain Overview.

The Electric Motor is an independent library component — it can be saved, loaded, duplicated, and shared separately from the parent Powertrain.

Parameters

Speed Limits

Parameter Description Unit
Minimum Speed Limit Lowest RPM the motor can operate at RPM
Maximum Speed Limit Highest RPM the motor can reach RPM

Maximum Power

Parameter Description Unit
Maximum Power Peak power output the motor can sustain kW

When a maximum power limit is set, the motor will automatically reduce torque at high RPM to stay within the power envelope.

Hub Motor Power

For AWD Hub Motor configurations, this setting applies to each individual motor, not the total combined power. With 4 hub motors, total system power would be 4x the individual motor rating.

Torque Map

The motor's torque characteristics can be defined using two data types:

1D Map (RPM vs Torque)

  • X-Axis: Motor speed (RPM)
  • Y-Axis: Torque output (Nm)
  • Use when: Motor operates at constant voltage, no field weakening, or limited data available

2D Map (Voltage vs RPM vs Torque)

  • X-Axis: Applied voltage (V)
  • Y-Axis: Motor speed (RPM)
  • Z-Axis: Torque output (Nm)
  • Use when: Modelling voltage-dependent torque characteristics or field weakening strategies

Choosing Between 1D and 2D

Use 1D maps for simple motor models. Use 2D maps when you have voltage-dependent data — this is important for motors that employ field weakening, where torque changes significantly with voltage at high RPM.

See Data Types for details on map editors.

Regenerative Braking

The motor can provide regenerative braking by applying negative torque during deceleration. The amount of regenerative torque available is the inverse of the propulsion torque at the current RPM.

Regenerative braking power is limited by the battery's Maximum Charge Power setting (configured in the Battery component). If max charge power is set to 0, no regenerative braking occurs.

Validation Warnings

Condition Warning
Operating range < 3,000 RPM Narrow operating range may limit performance
Torque curve variation < 10% Unusually flat torque curve — check motor data
Maximum power < 10 kW Low maximum power limit — verify motor specifications
2D map with only one voltage point Voltage-dependent motor has only one voltage point in its map

Tips

  • Start with a 1D map if you don't have voltage-dependent data — you can always upgrade to 2D later
  • Match motor to battery — ensure motor voltage requirements align with battery pack voltage (see Powertrain Overview for EV source warnings)
  • Set RPM limits to match your data — the min and max RPM should align with your torque map range

Next Steps