This paper deals with the design, implementation and evaluation of an electronic differential system intended for light electric vehicles. Its operation is based on splitting the torque equally for two independent brushless DC motors installed in the same axis of the vehicle and directly coupled to the wheels. This configuration allows the motors to rotate at different speeds when the vehicle traces a curve. The system also detects and corrects the slipping of any traction wheel. The main feature of the proposed system is that it does not require specific sensors to measure the steering angle and the speed of the drive wheels. Another important feature is that it is implemented using standard electric bicycle controllers and a general purpose Arduino platform. These components are very inexpensive and are available almost anywhere in the world.

This paper lays out the problem of powering a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) by means of a photovoltaic (PV) generator without any battery or any other kind of energy accumulation system and develops a simple and efficient solution for it. The solution has been made by the implementation of a Proportional-Integral Controller (PI) based on Arduino platform as well as an appropriate tuning of its control parameters utilizing the tuning method known as AMIGOf (Approximate Mconstrained Integral Gained Optimization based on frequency response). The controller allows the motor to rotate at a speed range from repose state to the maximum speed that can be reached when the photovoltaic generator operates at its maximum power point (MPP). In order to assess the system operation, it has been built up an experimental system composed on the motor, an e-bike inverter and a small photovoltaic generator. Start-up and sudden drop of the available PV power tests have been carried out. The obtained results show a successful system behaviour, providing quick start-up without oscillations and a fast response to a drop of the available power. The generator voltage is always kept close to the control setpoint value, avoiding sharp voltage drops which could turn out the system to be unstable.

Hermoso-Orzáez Manuel Jesus, PhD, has been a full-time assistant professor doctor at the University of Jaén since February 2009. He developed his professional activity in the world of engineering and projects with experience of more than 20 years in public administration (municipal public lighting technician) and in the private sector. He has significant experience as a researcher with more than 20 of 30 articles published JCR-Scopus and Web of Science, 10 of them very relevant in high-impact journals Q1-Q2. His presence at international congresses has resulted in very diverse oral communications, writings, posters, and conferences. He also participates as a Publons journal reviewer and is a member of several scientific committees. His outstanding research field includes public lighting, applied energy efficiency, LED lighting, project management and management, alternative energies, energy sustainability, gasification, hydrogen, building information modeling (construction information modeling), economic and financial analysis, and industrial maintenance and storage. Alfonso Gago Calderón received his MS (best overall academic achievement) and PhD degrees in Industrial Engineering in 2002 and 2010, respectively, and his MS degree in Audiovisual Systems in 2010, all from the Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Spain. From 2003 to 2016, he was the director of the R&D department of the electronic development company SOLITEC and Associate Professor of the Manufacturing Engineering Department at UMA. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of the Department of Graphics, Design and Projects at the same university. He holds seven patents and a large number of papers in indexed journals and communications in scientific conferences. His current research interests are LED lighting, LED displays, renewable energies, energy efficiency, and light electric vehicles.