Brushless Electric Motors Frequently Asked Questions

Do you know next to nothing about brushless drives? Why not get started with your search for information by checking out some previous questions on the specifics of this type of machine? We have collected three of the most common questions people ask about brushless drives, including  popular misconceptions and prejudices to ensure that you make the best choices concerning your electric motors.

•   Can brushless drives be used in hybrid energy cars?

Yes! A high powered brushless drive coupled with a reliable controller can be used successfully in any type of vehicle, such as a car, motorcycle, golf cart, fork lift or boat. Many DIY kits are available for converting your vehicle into a more energy efficient machine and include parts such as the integral bridge, differential gear box and braking system.

•   How long does the average brushless electric motor last?

The longevity of any machine depends very much on the quality of construction and the application you are using it for. Other influential factors include the surrounding environment – including  such specifics such as air quality, humidity and floating debris – duty cycle, input power and load coupling. Generally, however, brushless machines last much longer than the brushed equivalents, as the product lifetime is limited only by ball bearing wear.

•   How is speed measured in brushless drives?

Determining the speed of your brushless machine can be a little confusing as there is no standard unit used in this field. The two most popular methods of measuring speed used by manufacturers, however, is by turns and using a KV value. As a general guide, you should understand that the fewer the turns on a brushless electric motor the faster the acceleration, whereas a higher KV number means faster acceleration.

How to choose size of the electric motors for your vehicle

For electric vehicle, lighter weight is what everyone recommends. Light weight means lesser load on the vehicle engine. Therefore while choosing electric motor you need to be watchful for its weight and avoid overcapacity motor. Over capacity electric motors don’t just increase the over all weight of the vehicle but also demands more batteries in storage bank. In this way, additional batteries further increase the vehicle weight.

Since electric vehicle conversion is about balancing, so it is you who will decide on the range and performance you expect from your vehicle. Performance of vehicle doesn’t simply need your wish your vehicle should also support your demand. Considering all the factors along with the selection of electric motor will help to achieve the conversion you are looking for. For this, you need to plan and calculate all the figures of your vehicle. Take engine capacity and size, vehicle size, maximum speed it can run on diesel, etc. in consideration. Getting right electric motor will prove to be rewarding.

If you feel trouble in finding right motor, then it is better to contact professional. Even if you pay some money to the professional to calculate and select right option, still it will be cheaper than the readymade electric vehicle. So don’t be fearful to spend on professionals, because it is better to take time and spend little more money than finally having a vehicle that doesn’t fit into your requirement and have retire earlier than its actual age. There are various vehicle conversion professionals who can suggest you the best option and get you the right motor.

Choosing electric motor for your car

Often while conversion of car it becomes a dilemma for people that whether they should choose AC or DC electric motor. Since, both of them have different features and challenges to face, it becomes a point of debate that which one is good for a car. But, comparing your requirements with their feature all perplexities can be eliminated.

As far as AC (Alternating current) electric motors are considered, they are, preferred by commercially produced electric or hybrid cars. This is because of their lighter weight than DC (direct current) electric motors and their ability to produce charge to the batteries when the car slows down. This process is known as regenerative braking. The AC electric motor is used to slow the vehicle down when the motor spins and generates current which is supplied to the battery pack.

The downside of AC motors says that there are also some challenges to be faced when they are installed. One of them is their excessive high cost. This is why often some people opt for DC motors when it is about reducing car conversion cost. However, this doesn’t mean that DC electric motors are can be graded low. There are many occasions when DC motors are suitable. If used ones are picked up from the market and reconditioned, it will cost quite low and also such choices last long because their servicing life is longer than conventional fueled engine. Reason, this electric motors have only one part that is moving, unlike diesel and gasoline that hundreds of moving part. Electric motors generate lesser heat, so almost no cooling is required and there no part frictions with each other so there is no need for lubrication either. So there are both pros and cons of AC and DC motors.