We know General Motors means business in the electric-car segment. The automaker has 20 new battery-electric vehicles on the way by 2023, and two of them will arrive in less than 18 months. We’re still in the dark on many of the improvements GM’s future EVs will house, but a new electric motor patent may provide some clues.
First discovered by AutoGuide, the electric motor boasts multiple magnet lengths. The design differs from the Chevrolet Bolt EV‘s motor in this respect, as the mass-market EV utilizes a motor with a single permanent magnet. Why would GM be interested in multiple magnet lengths? They could effectively change torque delivery with ease in various applications; smaller magnets return less torque, while larger ones increase torque.
The modular lamination sheet proposed in the patent would work with different magnet lengths and it would mean minimal re-engineering each time an EV requires a new magnet length. The patent could make manufacturing and assembly less complex as well.
Right now, it’s unclear how GM will utilize the patent, or if it will at all. However, the adaptations with multiple magnet lengths could give way to more efficient electric vehicles, and let’s say, a high-performance EV with a larger magnet. We do believe GM has a sporty electric car in development, after all.
Comments
And the march into the future of EV’s continues. Bring it on.
I’m sure there’s a valid reason for this which is most likely increased efficiency but this doesn’t exactly make sense to me…While at “wide open throttle” or in EV speak, full current, you do get 100% of the torque instantly without the progressive ramp up like an ICE, however, if you reduce the “throttle”/current, you get less torque…