Design of a Dual-Motor Powertrain with Magnetorheological Planetary Transmission for Electric Vehicles

The powertrain system plays a crucial role in electric vehicles, exerting significant impact on both the dynamic and economic performances. A breakthrough has been observed by using the dual-motor powertrain system, which outperformed its single-motor counterparts. This study reports a dual-motor powertrain with magnetorheological technology. The powertrain consists of two motors, two magnetorheological brakes and a planetary gear set. Via regulating the brakes, the power transmission flow can be controlled to realise different torque ratios and velocities. The synergetic control of motors and brakes is capable of achieving smooth gear shifting without interruption. This paper details the design of the powertrain system: the structural configuration of the magnetorheological brakes is highlighted, the magnetic field distribution of the brakes under different currents is simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics, and the torque capacities of the brake are also calculated. Future work will focus on the control algorithm development and experimental evaluation of the powertrain system.