Electric Cars?

Hi,
Im looking into designing an electric car drivetrain including gearbox, and was wondering if anybody knew the advantages of AC motors over DC? Im not too hot on the electric side.

i cannot think of any advantages in going A/C. in the past ive had an interest in electric vehicals and i can only remember DC motors being used in any of them.

It maybe because AC motors run at a higher voltage, therefore require a lower current to achieve the same power as a DC motor. High currents usually mean heat. Maybe AC systems are more efficient, less energy lost to heat....

You could have a look here http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/index.htmlhttp://www.austinev.org/evalbum/index.html Good luck.

Brushed DC motors are mostly less efficient. The loss over the brushes alone is a disadvantage.

But it depends on what kind of motorcontroler you want to use.

Looked into this a few months ago my self, before deciding it was much easier to by an LPG car instead.

Heres a few links I found, the last 2 are interesting if starting from scratch, Did find a bus and pickup that used these but didnt bookmark them. They are also brushless DC motors (AC if you like) and are the most efficient/reliable, brushed motors have a limited brush life also.

The first 2 are really an easy way to convert existing cars by taking out the engine and replacing it with a cheap DC motor directly onto the existing gearbox. The main problem is the brake servo, heaters, power steering and other systems that the engine powers also need to be changed to run of electric.

http://www.evuk.co.uk/http://www.evuk.co.uk/

http://www.evadc.org/build_an_ev.htmlhttp://www.evadc.org/build_an_ev.html

http://www.e-traction.com/TheWheel.htmhttp://www.e-traction.com/TheWheel.htm

Mark

http://www.heinzmann.de/e/index.htmhttp://www.heinzmann.de/e/index.htm

Anyone know of any scrap yards or sources of large DC motors? Looking for something like this http://www.evparts.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=536&product_id=1128http://www.evparts.com/shopping/prod...roduct_id=1128 just cant afford to buy a new one! They are used as pump motors on forklift trucks.

Any Ideas?

Done most the design work on this project, now just need the motor to start building. Looking promising!

Suren
Supernova

Forklift truck motors are readily available
and very powerful,and 24v

I have just been given an ex postoffice battery vehicle, the kind used in train stations to pull several trailers. It is 96V DC, one hell of a motor underneath and 8x12 batteries. Sorry its not for sale, its road legal with reg number and tax exempt! lol :)

Regards

Im looking for some thing just like that! 96V is ideal, let me know if you can get hold of any more!

Maybe some calls to your local sorting office or train station may throw up something, mine came from a local company that does crash repairs and also buys ex royalmail/police/bt/transco/council vehicles. I am planning on doing the usual locomotive look alike conversion and then see if I can get the council to license me to operate it along the beach near my home taking punters up and down the promenade :) choo choo :) hehehehe

This is confusing, thought I had been making drunken posts until I saw the name Gooroo

(Message edited by simon on November 26, 2005)

I shall fix it now m8, lol :)

Hows that?

Regards

Less confusing :)

Suren these anygood?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LARGE-DC-MOTOR_W0QQitemZ7577289110QQcategoryZ26209QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItemhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LARGE-DC-MOTOR...Z26209QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-LARGE-DC-MOTOR_W0QQitemZ7577290424QQcategoryZ26209QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItemhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-LARGE-DC-M...goryZ26209QQrd Z1QQcmdZViewItem

Hi Alan,
Im keeping an eye on these motors, but i have designed a transmission for a 80v 20Hp (cont) monster motor. If they are going cheap, i might get the reconditioned one on sale on ebay to test with. Im planning to use a 156V 1000Amp controller, scary stuff!

Thanks for keeping an eye out Alan.

Suren

wow! Where do you find one of those?

The motor is being custom made in italy, the controller is from the US.