Design concept of a lightweight electric motor casing with support from thermomechanical simulations

Electric and hybrid electric vehicles and lightweight components are important issues for the automotive industry in the pursuit for the reduction of carbon emissions. In this study, a fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) casing for a high-power electric motor was designed, with focus on the cooling system effectiveness. Heat transfer simulations were performed to prove the effectiveness of different proposed cooling systems. A design concept using the selected cooling system and 30 wt% glass fibre-reinforced polyamide-6 as the material for the casing was submitted to a thermomechanical analysis. Results show a maximum temperature of 105°C in the casing and stresses well within the limits of the material. For this material, the design concept shows a potential for ~65% weight reduction. The possibility of using other FRPs is also briefly discussed.