This "open access" book systematically introduces the fundamental working principles and control theory of automotive AC drive motors. The main content of the book is compiled from automotive electric drive technology, electric machine theory, and AC motor control. The book is organized into three parts: the electromagnetic fundamentals of electric machines, the basic working principles of AC machines, and the vector control theory fundamentals and system integration of automotive AC drive motors. The content arrangement of this book fully considers the curriculum for non-electric engineering majors, striving for an integral structure. The book is distinctive in following points: mathematical analysis methods and physical representations are as consistent as possible, mainly using space vectors and energy methods to describe the electromechanical energy conversion process of electric machines. Additionally, after introducing the motion reference frame, the book introduces the concept of "entrainment electromotive force". Based on this, a four-coil primitive electric machine (physical) model is introduced to uniformly describe the electromechanical energy conversion principle of electric machines. This book can be selected as a textbook for undergraduate or graduate courses in non-electric engineering majors, and can also serve as an introductory reference book for engineers engaged in AC motor drive technology.
Dr. Yeqin Wang received the B.Eng. degree in automotive engineering from the College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, in 2009, the M.Eng. degree in automotive engineering from the School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, in 2012, and the Ph.D. degree in wind science & engineering from the National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, in 2019. He has received Outstanding Dissertation Award (2nd Place 2020) from Texas Tech University. From 2019 to 2021, he was the Director of Technology at Syndem LLC, Willowbrook, IL, USA. Since 2021, he has been an Assistant Professor at Tongji University, Shanghai, China. Since 2025, Dr. Wang has published more than 20 SCI journal papers. He is the co-author of the textbook “Principle and Control Fundamentals of Vehicle Drive Motor, 2nd edition (In Chinese)” in 2024. His current research interests include electric drive systems, power electronics control, and renewable energy.
Prof. Zaimin Zhong received the B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in vehicle engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China, in 1995 and 2000, respectively. In December 2005, he became an Associate Professor, and in December 2012, he became a Professor at Tongji University, Shanghai, China. Since 2025, Prof. Zhong has published over 50 well cited research papers. He published the book entitled “Distributed Parameter Model of Electric Motors for Vehicular Applications” in 2018 and the textbook “Principle and Control Fundamentals of Vehicle Drive Motor (In Chinese)”, its 2nd edition in 2020 and 2024. His current research interests include automotive electric drive and transportation electrification.
Prof. Stephan Rinderknecht studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Stuttgart from 1984 to 1990, where he subsequently received his doctorate degree in 1994. After working as a post-doc at the Institute for Statics and Dynamics of Aerospace Constructions (ISD) at the University of Stuttgart, he moved to industry in 1995. Until 2008 he worked as a development engineer and last as Vice President Research and Development at GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG in Ludwigsburg, Untergruppenbach and St. Georgen. Since 2009 he has been a professor for Mechatronic Systems in Mechanical Engineering at the TU Darmstadt. Prof. Rinderknecht is active in various program committees (e.g. CTI Symposium Automotive Drivetrains, VDI Dritev, VDI Mechatronics, SIRM – Vibrations in Rotating Machinary), as a member of the Mechatronics Technical Committee of the VDI/VDE Society for Measurement and Automation Technology (GMA) and as an editorial board member of the open access journal “vehicles” at MDPI. His current research is on architectures for hybrid and electric drives and the system development of mechatronic transmissions, the design of flywheel energy storages and control of multimodal smart grids as well as sectorial system coupling and integration.
