Innovative motor for DREEM e-scooter

Together with Elaphe, Domel developed the TFM (transversal flux) motor for electric kick scooters. The objective of the project was to develop the lightest and most efficient motor.

The motor is developed under the DREEM (Designing useR centric E-kickscooters & business models for Enhancing interModality) project aimed at developing, producing and measuring a safe and modular 3-wheel electric kick scooter for urban and suburban mobility. The project involves 10 partners from six European countries: Italy, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, France and Slovenia. We received European funds for motor development.

“This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101007085.”

Additional information about the kick scooter and the project is available on the website https://dreemscooter.eu/ where you can see the conceptual design of the final product and all associated equipment.

Domel’s innovative motor, which is attached to the front wheel of the kick scooter, replacing the rim, has met all expectations. The three-phase motor with 350 W is 800 g lighter than the comparable BLDC motor, and is among the lightest motors in this power range in the world. It is thermally stable up to 10 Nm of torque, and develops a speed of 520 rpm. Currently, the project is in the phase of the first working prototype. The motor can also be used to drive an e-scooter or e-bike.

The results of measurements are extremely positive and have confirmed the theoretical analysis and FEM (finite element method) calculations. During the project, we were facing numerous challenges which we promptly addressed. The biggest challenge was to produce a stator from sintered material, which is a completely innovative part of the electric motor. The rotor consists of skewed rare-earth magnets.

The project includes a team with a background in development, technology, the prototype workshop, tool shop and measuring station. By the end of the year, we need to produce 40 motors that will be installed in scooters. The scooters will be intended for mobility research conducted in various pilot environments. The urban pilot project will be carried out on the streets of Torino, another pilot project will take place in an industrial plant in Belgium, and the third at the University of Gothenburg. The project will last 2 years.