Induction motors are highly preferred in electric vehicle (EV) applications due to robustness. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the vector control of an induction motor for EV applications. To achieve precise closed-loop speed and torque regulation, the mechanical angular speed of the rotor is obtained through a quadrature encoder. In addition to this, a magnetic flux estimator is implemented to provide the real-time flux information. The mathematical model and control for a motor drive system are established. To validate the effectiveness of the typical vector control, a real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test is conducted, where the power circuit and control strategies are both simulated by the PLECS RT Box. The HIL results verify the stability, dynamic response, and overall effectiveness of the proposed vector control scheme for EV drivetrains.