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 article presents a design and performance analysis of an Electronic Differential (ED) system designed for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs). We have developed a test tricycle vehicle with one front steering wheel and two rear fixed units in the same axis with a brushless DC (BLDC) motor integrated in each of them. Each motor has an independent controller unit and a common electronic Arduino CPU that can plan specific speeds for each wheel as curves are being traced. Different implementations of sensors (input current/torque, steering angle and speed of the wheels) are discussed related to their hardware complexity and performance based on speed level requirements and slipping on the traction wheels. Two driving circuits were generated (slalom and circular routes) and driven at different speeds, monitoring and recording all the related parameters of the vehicle. The most representative graphs obtained are presented. The analysis of these data presents a significant change of the behaviour of the control capability of the ED when the lineal speed of the vehicle makes a change of direction that passes 10 Km/h. In this situation, to obtain good performance of the ED, it is necessary to include sensors related to the wheels.