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Old 09-29-2012, 08:01 AM   #25 (permalink)
ev99saturn
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Maine
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Snake Oil - '10 Factory Five Racing Mk4
90 day: 77 mpg (US)
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I debated a lot about going transmission or direct drive, and decided to try direct drive.

Looking at the fastest EVs out there, NEDRA vehicles, they are mostly direct drive. If the design can stand up to racing, it ought to handle street driving. For normal street driving the big motor is not working that hard and there are some advantages over transmission drives.

This is my second EV build, the first one used a 5 speed transmission. I rarely used 1st or 5th gears.

With direct drive, vs. transmission, there is definitely a higher current demand to start rolling. But, at 50 mph a transmission would be in 4th gear anyway and running at a similar rpm to direct drive.

Quote:
Originally Posted by madmike8 View Post
I think you need a transmission or steeper gears in the rear. Motors are more efficient at higher rpms. Driving at 40-50 your burning more amps since the rpm is around 2k. A transmission would allow you to keep the motor in a more optimal rpm for a given speed.

Btw love the Cobra!
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