The Volt gets 127MPG in real-world testing

[lethe]

I haven't driven a recent small diesel, but the diesel Rabbit I drove briefly a *long* time ago was horrifically slow.

go test drive one now, stock my Golf is 140hp and 236 lb/ft, I probably won't do much to it but they do supposedly respond really well to mods.

For electrics will we be rewinding motors and adding capacitors to mod?

[mitt]

For electrics will we be rewinding motors and adding capacitors to mod?

I seriously doubt it.  Car makers are will not add extra hardware margin for free.  I imagine a lot of gains will come from reprogramming the software - changing how the power is delivered.  With electronic motors and batteries, the power deliver could be close to instantaneous, and I imagine most electric cars today actually delay the delivery to take out harshness and extend battery life.


mitt

[Latinbalar]

Yes you have to regulate the power output especially during take off since its instant.  Lots of burnouts if you don't.  Well I did alot of RC racing so you can get hotter motors better cables. Better tires will grip better so you can tweak out the "traction control" to give you more of a launch.

[mitt]

Yes you have to regulate the power output especially during take off since its instant.  Lots of burnouts if you don't.  Well I did alot of RC racing so you can get hotter motors better cables. Better tires will grip better so you can tweak out the "traction control" to give you more of a launch.

I raced RC cars too (RC10), and now work in the mechtronic engineering world.  Unfortunately I think a lot of the RC performance parts I dropped serious money on were more hype than science.  Much like Ducati 

mitt

[sno_duc]

In the "Porsche Part of the day thread", the last one looked a lot like a 3 Ø electric motor, if so then there is a freq drive (inverter) between it and the battery pack. So the modding will be to change the outputs to a higher amp versions and rewinding the motor to take more amps. I times E = horsepower.... can't change the E so More I   

[mitt]

In the "Porsche Part of the day thread", the last one looked a lot like a 3 Ø electric motor, if so then there is a freq drive (inverter) between it and the battery pack. So the modding will be to change the outputs to a higher amp versions and rewinding the motor to take more amps. I times E = horsepower.... can't change the E so More I   

Elctromechanical power is also a function of number of windings and spacing of windings, so there is balance between sizing the wire diameter and length.  The finer the diameter, the more windings, but the higher resistance and less current.  The larger the wire diameter, the fewer windings, but less resistance and more current.  You keep iterating until you find the best compromise.

mitt

[sno_duc]

Exactly, modding will be up-sizing the wire to lower the resistance and allow higher amps, and just like modding I.C.E.s you trade off life and fuel mileage. Goes like h*ll but the battery is only good for 15 miles and only lasts a year or two.

Cheap / Fast / Reliable ..... pick any two.

Give me some super-conducting wire that works at liquid nitrogen temps.......   

[Porsche Monkey]

In the "Porsche Part of the day thread", the last one looked a lot like a 3 Ø electric motor, if so then there is a freq drive (inverter) between it and the battery pack. So the modding will be to change the outputs to a higher amp versions and rewinding the motor to take more amps. I times E = horsepower.... can't change the E so More I   

I don't know how big the motor is but yes it is frequency driven and yes there is an inverter.  Voltage stays constant, frequency changes.  You probably know more about it than I do. 

[Speeddog]

What is the voltage on that?

[sno_duc]

I'm taking a S.W.A.Q. between 200 and 300 volts, porsche monkey would know.

swaq= scientific wild a$$ quess

I've worked on (both maintaining and running) a lot of CNC VMCs, they use a freq drive on the spindle. In order to perform sub 5 second tool changes, the motor brakes the spindle via the freq drive. Dumps the energy into a bank of big resistors.

Most freq drives (inverters) convert ac into dc, charging a bank of caps, then pulse width modulate it back into 3Ø ac. For this you can subsitute step 1 and 2 with the battery pack.

[Speeddog]

I'm taking a S.W.A.Q. between 200 and 300 volts, porsche monkey would know.

~~SNIP~~

Wonder how many would-be modders know what happens when you get your fingers on 300 VDC.

[Howie]

In the world of hybrids, if there are large orange wires going to, it handle with extreme caution.

[Porsche Monkey]

Nominal voltage is 288 DC but can get to over 300.

[Randimus Maximus]

Nominal voltage is 288 DC but can get to over 300.

Weak as circus lemonade.

Prius has up to 650 VDC. 

[lethe]

Weak as circus lemonade.

Prius has up to 650 VDC. 

hmmm, hybrid Porsche with only a 300 volt motor assisting or a Prius with a big 650, such a tough decision if I were to be offered one or the other.