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Kyenote Speaker Name: Christopher H. T. Lee Nanyang Technological University |
Amid shifting consumer preferences, tightening government regulations, and growing sustainability demands, research into electromobility—for example electric vehicles (EVs)—has attracted significant attention. Forecasts indicate that by 2040, annual global sales of electric and hybrid vehicles could reach approximately 70–90 million units, surpassing those of conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles in many scenarios. As a core element of electromobility architectures, the development of electric motor drives has emerged as a prominent research focus. In traditional geared propulsion systems, the motor connects to the wheels via multiple mechanical transmission components, which inevitably reduce overall efficiency, add weight, and elevate maintenance costs. A compelling alternative is the direct-drive (or gearless) system, which eliminates these mechanical elements entirely. This approach frees up valuable space for larger batteries or enhanced passenger accommodation while enabling superior control flexibility through independent wheel actuation.
Over the past century, advances in energy storage have accelerated, with high-power-density batteries now widely adopted in automotive applications. Concurrently, various gearless electric motor drive concepts have been explored, offering higher power density and reduced unsprung mass. Consequently, gearless motor drive systems hold strong promise for next-generation electromobility applications. Building on comparisons with conventional geared systems, this keynote presents the latest advancements in gearless electric motor drives for electromobility applications, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of key developments and emerging topics.
Christopher H. T. Lee received his B.Eng. (First Class Honours) degree in 2009, and Ph.D. degree in 2016 both in electrical engineering from Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. He is currently an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow and then a Visiting Assistant Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States. He is an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, and IET Renewable Power Generation. He is currently the Chair of Motor Subcommittee of IEEE PES Electric Machinery Committee. He was the Chair of IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Singapore Section Chapter in 2023 – 2025. He is a Chartered Engineer in Hong Kong. His research interests include Electric Machines and Drives, Renewable Energies, and Electromechanical Propulsion Technologies. In these areas, he has published 2 books, 4 books chapters, and over 350 referred papers.
Dr. Lee is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, U.K. He was a recipient of the 10th Nagamori Award in 2024, IAS Myron Zucker Student-Faculty Grant in 2023, JSPS Fellowship in 2023, MDPI Energies Young Investigator Award in 2022, NRF Fellowship in 2020, Nanyang Assistant Professorship in 2019, Li Ka Shing Prize (the best Ph.D. thesis prize) in 2017 and Croucher Foundation Fellowship in 2016, and 8 best paper awards, including Best Paper Awards in IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion in 2022 and 2024.