Can electric cars be tuned?

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Comments

Kyle Ashdown

Would it be possible to increase power by somehow connecting a small generator in series with the rest of the powertrain?

09/14/2017 - 00:34 |
6 | 4
V-Tech and EcoBoost kicked in yo

Electric motors can’t be tuned like gas motors because they are so efficient. The basis of tuning an internal combustion engine is to affect the efficiency of it in certain areas or overall. Electric motors are already highly efficient almost everywhere. DIY EV builders love this since it means you can build an electric car with much less expertise than you would need for a gas car.

With that said, electric tuning will come in the forms of things like voltage, ampere, and material limits, like said in the video. I think the type of motor will play the most significant role. AC motors are cheaper than DC motors since they don’t require expensive permanent magnets (which by the way, can degrade). They also don’t use commutators, which makes them essentially maintenance-free. However, they also require an inverter and are careful timing management for optimal performance. DC motors are simpler to operate and can run straight of a battery, but require permanent magnets and commutators. You must replace the commutators every once in a while. Also, DC motors are voltage limited as too much voltage can cause arcing at the commutator.

IMO, switched reluctance motors are the ultimate in electric motor performance. They are cheap to produce since no permanent magnets are required, are EXTREMELY durable since the rotor is just a solid piece of metal with no wiring or commutators, and have (debatable) the best power to size/weight ratio of any electric motor. Their only downsides are no regen braking due to the inherent design of motor and the control system required. Without careful controlling, they produce sharp torque spikes, leading to loud-supercharger noises. Also they run on DC current, so no inverter needed and the design of the motor itself is very simple. Additionally, all the wiring is in the stator, which is the outside stationary part, which means motor cooling is far easier than other types of motors.

Switched reluctance motors are used for extreme applications like Audi electric superchargers or high rpm Dyson vacuums. In both cases, motor rpms reach over 100,000. No other electric motor could survive the forces in these situations.

09/14/2017 - 00:57 |
96 | 2
Daniel Penalo

I don’t think it can:D

09/14/2017 - 02:29 |
0 | 0
Olivier (CT's grammar commie)

It can be done. But just on the exterior and interior.

09/14/2017 - 17:48 |
0 | 6
Soni Redx (MD Squad Leader) (Subie Squad Leader)

WHERE IS MY LAPTOP!?

09/14/2017 - 21:59 |
2 | 0
walleye yang

Yes you can, buy a bigger battery

09/15/2017 - 04:04 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Tuning a electric car will be by software. Only limmiting factors are batt volt and amp. Heat and max rpm before the motor explodes .
If u have a high enough batt pack voltage U can increase frequency to increase rpm till the point u reach max rpm
U can increase torque by increasing current. If u can get rid of the heat via liquid cooling u can keep pumping in more and more current. If u can deal with the heat only limit is how much current the controller and battery can deliver.
Regen braking can be adjusted from 0 to max charge current the batt can take. Add braking resistors and u could brake harder then u could accelerate
If u have 4 hub motors then the tuning possibilities are endless. Electric cars are millions of times more tunable then any petrol car ever built. With hub motors u can independently adjust wheel speed and torque at each wheel hundreds of times per revolution. The traction control possible is thousands of times better then any petrol car could have. People need to get over the sound of a car. Electric cars are better in every other way.

09/16/2017 - 03:24 |
2 | 0
HAYABUSA

Wouldn’t override count as tuning ?

09/16/2017 - 15:11 |
0 | 0

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