The Effect of Air Gap on Braking Performance of Eddy Current Brakes on Electric Vehicle Braking System

Abstract

Braking system by using friction is critical in electric vehicles. However, the use of excessive friction will cause a decrease in braking performance. One alternative solution is to use the Eddy current braking system (ECB). ECB is a braking system that utilizes eddy currents generated by induction when the rotor rotates due to the magnetic field produced by the stator. This study discusses the use of ECB for electric motorcycle disk braking systems. This study aims to determine the effect of air gap on braking performance of ECB on an electric motor. The finite element (FEM) method was used in ECB performance modeling. The results showed that the need for a combination of motorcycle disks with disks that match the ECB with maximum torque at 12Nm. It can be concluded that using ECB can effectively increase the braking power by reducing friction on the braking disk. It means the ECB system can extend the life of the braking disc.