The analysis of cogging torque, torque ripple and total harmonic distortion of a permanent magnet (PM) flux-switching machine having separate excitation stators is presented in this study. Further, the effect of unbalanced magnetic force (UMF) on the rotor of this machine is also investigated. A comparison of the analysed machine having different rotor pole configurations is also given. The analysis shows that the largest cogging torque, torque ripple as well as total harmonic distortion (THD) are obtained in the four-rotor-pole machine while the least of THD and torque ripple effects is seen in the thirteen-rotor-pole machine. Furthermore, the evaluation of the radial magnetic force of the machines having an odd number of rotor poles shows that the investigated machine having a five-rotor-pole number exhibits the highest value of UMF, while the smallest amount of UMF is obtained in an eleven-rotor-pole machine. Similarly, it is observed that the machines having an even number of rotor poles exhibit a negligible amount of UMF compared to the ones of the odd number of rotor poles.

The distortion of air gap magnetic field caused by the rotor eccentricity contributes to the electromechanical coupling vibration of the brushless DC (BLDC) permanent magnet in-wheel motor (PMIWM) in electric vehicles (EV). The comfort of the BLDC in-wheel motor drive (IWMD) EV is seriously affected. To deeply investigate the electromechanical coupling vibration of the PMIWM under air gap eccentricity, the PMIWM, tyre and road excitation are analyzed first. The influence of air gap eccentricity on air gap magnetic density is investigated. The coupling law of the air gap and the unbalanced magnetic force (UMF) is studied. The coupling characteristics of eccentricity rate, air gap magnetic density, UMF, phase current and vibration acceleration are verified on the test bench in the laboratory. The mechanism of the electromechanical coupling vibration of the BLDC PMIWM under air gap static eccentricity (SE), dynamic eccentricity (DE) and hybrid eccentricity (HE) is revealed. DE and HE deteriorate the vibration acceleration amplitude, which contributes the electromechanical coupling vibration of the PMIWM. The research results provide a solid foundation for the vibration and noise suppression of the PMIWM in distributed drive EV.