9 Comments
User's avatar
Peter Walling's avatar

Now please do Aptera.

Expand full comment
David L. Keys's avatar

My understanding is that a Tesla Plaid EV has quad motors and 1,000 horsepower. Is that correct?

Expand full comment
Ken Fabian's avatar

Very interesting and as per usual giving us much more depth that the more usual press releases with some added but not necessarily better informed commentary. I was sort of aware that motors without the permanent magnets exist ie that motors could be rare Earth free. This sounds better and I look forward to seeing - or not seeing, just relying on - these 'engines'.

One query is about the in-wheel motors/engines and 'unsprung mass', ie how the challenges of keeping the wheel weight low for the sake of suspension and tire durability and vehicle handling play out. I think there have been valid reasons to put the motors aboard the chassis but am interested in how in-wheel motors can be done whilst overcoming or at least moderating the 'unsprung mass' issues.

Expand full comment
Rob Lewis's avatar

I reckon you could do it with active suspension and perhaps radar look-ahead to recognize approaching bumps and potholes, but that would be pretty spendy.

Expand full comment
Rob Lewis's avatar

Good episode. But I was disappointed to hear no mention at all of the motor's *efficiency* (mechanical power output divided by electrical power input). Especially when compared with other motor configurations. I get that subbing in rare earth magnets for ferrite can increase power output, but does it also improve efficiency?

Maybe also worth mentioning that this motor, like other modern ones, is presumably "brushless"—brushes being expendable parts that eventually wear out.

I wish them well on developing a reliable in-wheel motor; such motors take a *hellacious* pounding from bumps in the road.

Expand full comment
victor yodaiken's avatar

For another very interesting innovative electric motor company look at

https://goinfinitum.com/

which has printed circuit stators!

Expand full comment
Jazzme's avatar

You smarty pants engineers put your efforts to improving the grid but improving the ekectric/ magnetic motor will get us to deminish8ng returns rather quickly. Better to get chemical engineers to improve:

batteries

recharging batteries.

Recycling batteries

The Chinese are using the grid to charge batteries which than charge EVs on the go. Fast and efficient.

But the electric motor: what's there to improve.

Expand full comment
Jazzme's avatar

That said I wish him and his company well.

Research Today

=

Solutions Tomorrow

Expand full comment
Scott Williams's avatar

If you are interested in exploring another innovative company making electric motors with no rare earth magnets and increased efficiency, C-Motive has been at it for over a decade working on electrostatic motors (which was first conceptualized by Benjamin Franklin): https://c-motive.com

Expand full comment