The rise in environmental concerns and depletion of traditional fuel sources has spurred significant interest in Electric Vehicles (EVs) as a potential replacement for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). However, two key challenges hinder the widespread adoption of EVs: limited driving range and high cost. The electric motor, a crucial component of the EV drivetrain, significantly impacts both aspects. On one hand, motor efficiency directly influences the vehicle's range, while on the other hand, its cost is second only to the battery in driving up the overall price of the EV. This study investigates the performance of permanent magnet DC (PMDC) and brushless DC (BLDC) motors for electric vehicle (EV) applications. The objective is to identify a motor system that offers a combination of fast response, stable dynamic performance, compact size, and affordability. To evaluate their suitability for EVs, a closed-loop speed control system employing a PI controller with a microcontroller is implemented for both motor types. For the PMDC motor, armature voltage control is used, while the BLDC motor utilizes a combination of variable input voltage and six-step commutation. Mathematical models were developed for each motor system and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. Additionally, experimental setups were constructed for both motors. The performance of each system was evaluated under various PI controller settings in simulation and for different reference speed variations in the experiments. The results of these analyses are presented and discussed.

DC motor; BLDC motor; PI controller; Arduino; Electric Vehicle (EV)