Sumitomo Electric Equips Electric Car with Superconducting Motor

Jun 13, 2008 19:39 Motohiko Hamada, Nikkei Monozukuri

Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd prototyped an electric vehicle driven by a superconducting motor for the first time in the world.

The new electric vehicle will be showcased at 2008 Integrated Exhibition of the Environment in Celebration of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Sapporo, Hokkaido in Japan from June 19, 2008. The company intends to prove the feasibility of high-temperature superconductivity technology for electric vehicle motors and promote the technology to the public.

In a standard electric vehicle motor, the coil is supplied with a slightly lower current and a slightly higher voltage to reduce electric resistance. However, it is difficult to generate a higher torque with a lower current.

As no resistance is applied to the superconducting coil, it results in a higher current with fewer turns and a lower voltage, thus resulting in a higher torque. While the latest electric vehicle was prototyped based on a passenger car, the company also plans to consider utilizing the superconducting motor in larger vehicles such as buses and trucks.

A superconducting magnet can be used in both the stator and the rotator. The released photos show that there is nothing sealing the coolant piping to the rotator. Thus, it is likely that the superconducting coil itself is being used as the stator.

• [Follow-up] Superconducting Motor to 'Come into Practical Use in 10 Years'

24 Hours | 7 Days