Current electric drives rely heavily on rare-earth-based magnets to enhance efficiency and power density. However, due to their significant environmental impact, there is growing interest in developing alternative electric drives that do not depend on these rare-earth materials.

One promising solution is a hybrid rotor topology, where permanent magnets—whether rare-earth-based or not—are combined with a field winding in the rotor. In this configuration, the magnets provide a constant magnetic flux, which can be adjusted—strengthened or weakened—via the field winding. When designing such an electric machine, it is crucial to optimize the fixed magnetic flux according to the load profile.

This research project has two main objectives: first, to design a rotor with hybrid excitation (including electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical considerations), and second, to develop an appropriate control system using a power electronics inverter. Alongside traditional design criteria such as power density, efficiency, and cost, the project will also focus on evaluating the sustainability of the design. Specific technical aspects related to electric motors will be explored in collaboration with a colleague.