Just read(skimmed, looking for pertinent information) through the MGR hotrod thread at last. Started off well, then like 8 pages of no (motor) progress before picking up out of the blue...then it totally died off.
Kinda hard to believe they got the motors running and then completely lost interest?
I'm no whiz (at electrical engineering) at this like Paul...just good at problem solving. I'll leave the real brainwork required to operate a complex motor properly, from scratch, to someone like him. I could replicate his work with a proper schematic, use his code, but not come up with it myself.
The basic concept of turning on each phase, in order, and of other basics, like monitoring current, I can wrap my brain around. And cheat by using off-the-shelf parts and modifying them to suit my needs. But who knows what weird things start happening when you're running high currents and high voltage. I'd have to wrap my head around the math that Paul uses, for starters. Don't think I have that kind of dedication.
Was good to see they figured out the resolver, got the motor running. Would be nice if they continued it, or else "published" their work up to this point(maybe they did?). I thought that was going to be the major draw-back. My problem-solving side was thinking to replace it with something simpler that would work...hall sensors. Which is what I'm thinking for the one on this little motor/generator. a 3d printer would come in handy for making perfect, replicatable(is that a word?) parts. I really should look in to building one...uhg, a project just to make parts for other projects?
I've now got plenty of motors to work out how to drive them successfully...if I ever get them running properly, I'll consider smuggling one of those MGR units.
Not to try and write off your efforts so far, but if ya really want an electric bug, a brushed DC motor with the original gear box would be infinitely easier to put together and get you rolling, at least. (You could go for a big brushless or AC motor instead, but you'd be paying through the nose for off the shelf components).
I'll admit the MGR unit is much more attractive...no gearbox! I would stuff one in the back of my Insight...or maybe even in the front. Just gotta get those guys to continue their work or tell us hoe to replicate what they've done so far...