Optimization of BLDC motor speed controller for improving travel range of EV

Abstract

The BLDC motors are widely adopted in electric two wheelers and three wheelers. These motors exhibit excellent electrical and mechanical characteristics in lightweight electric vehicles. The speed control methods of BLDC motor are categorized as scalar and vector control methods. The scalar methods like trapezoidal control is the simplest one which energizes motor windings in sequence. However, scalar control techniques are less efficient and have diminished characteristics at higher speeds. The main challenge in BLDC motor control systems is achieving optimal performance while minimizing energy consumption, which directly impacts battery longevity. This paper discusses the optimization of speed control of BLDC motor for enhancing the battery utilization. The MATLAB simulation results are discussed and the performance of the optimized control technique is analyzed through the state of the charge (SoC) of the battery. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach is used to optimize the gain values of the controller. The objective function was specifically designed to balance performance metrics with power consumption indicators to achieve energy-efficient operation.