A new £16.3 million ($27 million), 27 month research programme led by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) called Evoque¬_e is underway in the UK with the aim of developing electric research vehicles containing a multi-speed traction system with Oxford YASA Motors’ axial flux motors. The axial flux motors contain stators made from soft magnetic composite (SMC) powders.

Compared to a single-speed EV or HEV transmission DSD’s

MSYS 3-speed system provides a 40% weight saving and

10-15% lower energy consumption

According to a report in GreenCarCongress.com, specialist engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) will be responsible for integrating high speed motors, clutches and clutch strategies associated with torque management and delivery to the wheels. The multi-speed traction system developed by DSD incorporates a three-speed powershifting gearbox as well as the axial flux YASA motor.

MSYS supplies 60 kW of continuous power alongside more than 2,000 N•m (1,475 lb-ft) of torque at the wheels in an extremely compact package (Fig. 1). The integrated design of the axial flux YASA motor and multi-speed transmission provide opportunities to simplify the motor cooling system, electrical architecture and control system.

DSD says this technology can reduce the energy consumption of an electric vehicle by 10-15% compared with a single-speed EV or HEV transmission. As well as allowing downsizing of the motor, it extends the time the motor is operating within its most efficient region. The research grouping involved in the Evoque_e project states that this will be the most comprehensive study of EV transmission options yet to be undertaken.

In addition to DSD and Oxford YASA Motors, other members of the Evoque_e consortium are Jaguar Land Rover, AVL, GKN Driveline, Tata Steel, Williams Advanced Engineering, Delta Motorsport, Motor Design Ltd and Zytek, supported by Bristol, Cranfield and Newcastle universities.

The three cars in the Evoque_e project, to which JLR is contributing £4m, are due to be unveiled in 2015 and will serve as technology demonstrators to inform future manufacturing decisions.