June 08, 2002

For June 8, the NBEAA chapter found itself at Transmagnetics, a Cotati company working with small vehicles such as scooters and bikes. President Joe Stephenson and Design Engineer Arby Bernt are focused on high-efficiency brushless DC motors. The topic of the meeting was “Brushless is Better.”

Various motors on a surface with text: “Transmagnetics Brushless DC Motors. No Brushes to wear out. High Starting Torgue. Light Weight. Small Sie. High Efficiency. Brushless is better.”
Cylindershaped motor with text (captured in following caption).

Motor/controller systems are under $100 per kilowatt—compared to $180 for brushed motor/controllers.

Transmagnetic’s current motor platforms include:

  • 3—1.5 kw 12—110 volts 3.5 lbs. 2.2"Lx4.2"D 800 - 7000rpm
  • 2—4 kw 24—110 volts 6 lbs. 3.5"Lx5.75"D 800 - 7000rpm
  • 4—10 kw 24—192 volts 10 - 15 lbs. 5.5"Lx6.5"D 1,000 -12,000rpm
  • Hub motors (gear-less, direct drive): 300 watt—2 kilowatts

Applications: golf carts, go carts, scooters, bicycles, treadmills, treadmills (sic), blowers, pumps, robotics, wheelchairs, and other electric vehicles, commercial and industrial uses.

All motors feature: forward, reverse, current limiting, motor and controller thermal management.

Optional features: throttle controlled regenerative braking, speed servo-in and throttle lockout.

Transmagnetics is a 3 year-old California company, specializing in brushless DC motors. In motor design and electric transportation, our engineering and marketing staff’s combined experience eceeds 100 years. Our manufacturing partner produces over 3 million motors per year.