Quote:
Originally Posted by Clev
Forklift and EV motors weigh 60 to 125 pounds or more--of course they're going to handle more abuse.
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That statement is exactly the sole reason that MasterLock is still around.
People perceive weight to be strength.
Think about it like this. If you wanted to make an MIW EV, you wouldn't have to use that 48V motor. You wouldn't have to use a single 30HP motor mounted to the transmission. The motor wouldn't weigh in at 60-100 lbs.
You would be using 2-4 motors.
Now, worst case scenario, the each motor is 24V, 15HP, and only weighs 30-50lbs... roughly the same weight as many cars' wheel and tire combo.
Divide the original motor between 4 wheels, and you've got 4 motors, each 7-8HP, each 15-20lbs, each 12V.
Even when you consider removing the engine and transmission, drive line (CV axles or drive shaft) etc, you still have removed more weight than you're adding on.
Lets say that you take a 1989 Honda CRX HF (lighest, smallest engine), remove the engine, transmission, both axles, and all eletronics associated with both.
The engine weighs in at least 230LBS,
Tranny is another ~100LBS,
Axles are close to 40LBS,
Remove engine wiring, fuel tank, pump, lines, filler nozzle, filter, charcoal can, associated equipment ~30LBS (rough estimate)
Remove complete exhaust ~30LBS (depending on cat/muffler, etc.)
In total, you've lost ~400LBS.. now you can add those 4 EV motors at 60LBS each, and still be ~150LBS lighter... add in the electronics to run them, and you're ~100LBS (I have no true idea, that was a guess.), Add the batteries, and now you're JUST starting to get overweight.
Replace those 60LB EV motors with 20LB EV motors, that run on 12V, and produce 10HP each, and you've got roughly the equivalent of a bone stock Geo Metro anyway, as far as HP. Acceleration will probably be faster, since you're not waiting for the engine to get into it's "torque range"... E-motors have a torque figure while idle (potential torque), and you're not experiencing ANY drivetrain losses.
Now, you could still attach those motors to the chassis of the car, and attach from the chassis to the hubs using CV axles, but you'd experience at least some drivetrain losses, have another breakable component in the mix, be adding another 80LBS of weight (All 4 corners). And adding almost no benefit, other than "less unsprung weight" which isn't helping you at all anyway.