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Light electric vehicles are best suited for city and suburban settings, where top speed and long-distance travel are not the primary concerns. The literature concerning light electric vehicle powertrain design often overlooks the influence of the associated driving missions. Typically, the powertrain is initially parameterized, established, and then evaluated with an ex-post-performance assessment using driving cycles. Nevertheless, to optimize the size and performance of a vehicle according to its intended mission, it is essential to consider the driving cycles right from the outset, in the powertrain design. This paper presents the design of an electric powertrain for multipurpose light electric vehicles, focusing on the motor, battery, and charging requirements. The powertrain design optimization is realized from the first stages by considering the vehicle’s driving missions and operational patterns for multipurpose usage (transporting people or goods) in European urban environments. The proposed powertrain is modular and scalable in terms of the energy capacity of the battery as well as in the electric motor shaft power and torque. Having such a possibility gives one the flexibility to use the powertrain in different combinations for different vehicle categories, from L7 quadricycles to light M1 vehicles.

An electrically excited synchronous machine (EESM) is a promising alternative to the permanent magnets synchronous machines being used in the automotive industry. However, the main disadvantage of the EESM with the conventional excitation system with brushes is the presence of slip rings on the shaft, which need regular maintenance. A promising alternative to the conventional excitation system of the EESM is a wireless power transfer (WPT) system. In this paper, we focused on WPT excitation system based on the rotary transformers. First, the model of the EESM in the d-q reference frame with vector control system has been built (based on the parameters of the real machine) and analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink software. Second, the influence of the rotary transformer design parameters on the dynamic performance of the EESM has been investigated. Finally, different topologies of the rotary transformers found in the literature have been analyzed, modeled and compared using an analytical and numerical approach. Based on the obtained results, the most suitable electrical parameters (i.e., geometry parameters, supply frequency, magnetizing and leakage inductance, winding resistance and efficiency) of the rotary transformer have been identified and implemented into the d-q model of EESM.