New Drive Motor for Fuel Cell Vehicle FCX Clarity

A new electric drive motor has been developed for the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. The objectives of the development were the achievement of powerful acceleration performance, increased maximum speed, increased operating energy efficiency, and greater compactness to enable the realization of a new package.

An Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) rotor, able to use reluctance torque, was developed in a unique configuration. Inductance at maximum output power and rotor strength have been optimized in order to achieve higher power and maximum speed at a low source voltage. In order to realize a short-nose package, the motor and the gear reduction box have been integrated in a coaxial configuration.