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Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

supercarblondie.com

331–340 of 616 posts

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also not considered is that the announcement is for 740bhp motor. The Tesla model 3 has a vehicle output of about 400 hp. I’m not sure of all the design specs, but it seems clear to me that a smaller version of these motors could suffice to drive a 3 equivalent vehicle at 1/2 the output and still be more than sufficient. So let’s say maybe 15lbs each, vs current equivalent 70lbs each. It’s not major total weight impa…

The e-motor is often “overpowered” in EVs (compared to ICEs) to make regenerative braking efficient, i.e. capture meaningful energy from braking.

And because almost everyone is a sucker for the "Stomp on the pedal and it goes fast" marketing strategy and demonstration.

That's why a modern Camry makes almost 200 HP

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#332
post #258

This discussion is all about vehicles with large batteries, but how about hybrids? With light enough and efficient enough motors, all kinds of designs might become practical: - Toyota-style hybrid drives could be a lot lighter, and they don’t need large batteries. - e-bikes with tiny batteries? - Hybrid aircraft? What if there was a battery large enough for takeoff and landing, a small motor (or pair for redundancy)…

My first thought too.

While I see Toyota-style hybrids as designed for efficiency, there's also the performance hybrids like the new Porsche 911 T-hybrid where an electric motor spins up the turbocharger to eliminate lag while another integrated into the gearbox adds power. There is no "EV mode" so it doesn't need a large battery.

Arguably the most important characteristic of a sports car is light weight, so lighter motors would be immediately useful there.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#333
post #198
post #6

Could lead to significant efficiency gains for EV's, because 1/4 of the motor weight means better power-to-weight ratio... a lot of things will automatically get better. YASA was founded in 2009, a spin out from Oxford University following the PhD of founder and still CTO, Dr Tim Woolmer. "Over the decades that followed both of these technologies were explored. But despite the potential for weight reduction, smaller…

I wish more people on the road realized the extent to which weight reduction improves all aspects of the driving experience... it really does compound unlike any other change that you can make to a vehicle. IMO heavy vehicles are a scam and the antithesis of the direction we should be moving.

I went from a 2021 Opel Mokka (4.2m long, 1350kg) to a 2024 Volvo EX30 (4.2m long, 2000kg).

It was an absolute shock the first time I braked in the Volvo, not to mention trying to take a corner.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#334
post #6

Could lead to significant efficiency gains for EV's, because 1/4 of the motor weight means better power-to-weight ratio... a lot of things will automatically get better. YASA was founded in 2009, a spin out from Oxford University following the PhD of founder and still CTO, Dr Tim Woolmer. "Over the decades that followed both of these technologies were explored. But despite the potential for weight reduction, smaller…

> Could lead to significant efficiency gains for EV's, because 1/4 of the motor weight means better power-to-weight ratio... a lot of things will automatically get better. EV motors are already lightweight. The electric motor in a vehicle like a Tesla Model 3 already weighs less than you do. Reducing that one component by 75% would be a weight savings equivalent to about a half of a passenger. Not a significant effic…

I would expect that lighter motor components would potentially allow weight reduction in load bearing components. Not an advantage for SUV-type cars, but for light and ultralight vehicles it could add up to more weight saving and longer ranges.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Range in EVs is impacted very little by weight

Exactly. I was very surprised to find out a fully loaded 40 ton electric truck only uses ~100kw / 100km ( https://www.youtube.com/@electrictrucker ) when my 2 ton Volvo averages 20-22kw/100km on road trips.

[deleted]

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#336
post #6

Could lead to significant efficiency gains for EV's, because 1/4 of the motor weight means better power-to-weight ratio... a lot of things will automatically get better. YASA was founded in 2009, a spin out from Oxford University following the PhD of founder and still CTO, Dr Tim Woolmer. "Over the decades that followed both of these technologies were explored. But despite the potential for weight reduction, smaller…

> Could lead to significant efficiency gains for EV's, because 1/4 of the motor weight means better power-to-weight ratio... a lot of things will automatically get better. EV motors are already lightweight. The electric motor in a vehicle like a Tesla Model 3 already weighs less than you do. Reducing that one component by 75% would be a weight savings equivalent to about a half of a passenger. Not a significant effic…

The difference is when you take into consideration rotating mass, and the distribution between the stator and rotor.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#337
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tax SUVs out of existence.

A basic BMW 5 series is over 2 tonnes, with the top spec model tipping the scales at 2.5 tonnes. I mean I agree with the general sentiment but it's not just SUVs that need to go on a diet. Everything is getting heavier and heavier and heavier.

I see the same trend. My thoughts: 2 tonnes of shit sells for more than 1 tonne of shit. 650 HP entices a lot more people than 1,200kg. I usually have to dig to find the weight of the vehicle. It's a consumer education problem more than anything imo.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans do not do metric. Americans can’t even balance a checkbook. Hence the small dog reference for mental “clarity”. We’re dumb. Just look at the news…

I don't think it's fair to insult all US citizens because of your personal shortcomings.

No, Americans are numerically illiterate.

Which is why all the dumbest Americans insist that "Why didn't they teach us how to balance a check book?", while, well, they were taught that, and every single check book comes with clear and simple instructions for its use

They were also taught how to calculate loan details and the extreme power of how interest grows, but they were too busy crying "Oh this is lame, when am I ever going to use this?"

There's a cult of proud ignorance in the US. People will brag about being uneducated, illiterate, or unable to follow simple instructions.

Re: Tiny electric motor can produce more than 1,000 horsepower

#339
post #77
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea that's the thing right, the battery is so very much of the weight that optimizing the other parts are "meh" at this point. What is cool is that the 600Wh/kg solid state batteries seems like they are really finally here soon :) i.e removing 200-300kg from a car in one go will be a game changer.

Manufacturers may just keep the battery size and market the improved range instead? Smaller cars in urban and suburban environments have always had lots of benefits, but since many of them are collective in nature, it has largely fallen on tragedy of the commons, and we got larger cars with larger hoods instead.

Why not both? For a two-car family, having a good road-tripper and a light sporty car can work out pretty nicely.
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