Switched Reluctance Motor Drives in Electric Vehicles

Switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives are emerging as a compelling alternative for electric vehicle propulsion owing to their simple construction, robust performance and elimination of permanent magnets. Their operation relies on the principle of variable reluctance, whereby torque is generated by sequentially energising stator windings to align the nearest rotor poles. This inherently magnet-free design offers cost advantages and enhanced thermal tolerance, while the absence of rare-earth materials addresses supply-chain vulnerabilities. Key challenges include torque ripple, acoustic noise and control complexity arising from the nonlinear relationship between phase inductance and rotor position. Recent advances in electromagnetic design, topology optimisation and power-electronic interfaces have improved power density and efficiency, making SRMs increasingly viable for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. Integration with multi-objective control strategies enables simultaneous regulation of torque smoothness and energy recovery during regenerative braking. Globally, research efforts are now converging on high-performance SRM prototypes that deliver competitive range and reliability, with particular emphasis on fault-tolerant architectures and sensorless control systems to meet stringent automotive standards.

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Switched Reluctance Motor Drives in Electric Vehicles publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in switched reluctance motor drives in electric vehicles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM): A type of electric machine that produces torque through the tendency of its ferrous rotor to align with the minimum reluctance path of a switched stator magnetic field.

Torque ripple: Periodic fluctuation in output torque caused by discrete phase energisation and non-ideal flux alignment in SRMs, which can lead to vibration and acoustic noise.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA): A numerical technique for solving electromagnetic field distributions by discretising the motor geometry into small elements, enabling precise evaluation of performance metrics.

Model Predictive Control (MPC): An optimisation-based control strategy that uses a dynamic model of the SRM to predict future behaviour and compute optimal switching actions under constraints.

References

1. FEA-based pole arc optimization and sensitivity analysis of 8/6 SRM for EV application. Results in Engineering (2024).
2. Advanced Control of Switched Reluctance Motors (SRMs): A Review on Current Regulation, Torque Control and Vibration Suppression. IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society (2021).
3. An Overview of Fault-Diagnosis and Fault-Tolerance Techniques for Switched Reluctance Machine Systems. IEEE Access (2019).
4. Regenerative Braking Control Strategy for Electric Vehicles Based on Optimization of Switched Reluctance Generator Drive System. IEEE Access (2020).
5. Switched Reluctance Motors and Drive Systems for Electric Vehicle Powertrains: State of the Art Analysis and Future Trends. Energies (2021).
6. Mutually Coupled Switched Reluctance Motor: Fundamentals, Control, Modeling, State of the Art Review and Future Trends. IEEE Access (2019).
7. Geometry and Topology Optimization of Switched Reluctance Machines: A Review. IEEE Access (2022).