Can an electric car beat a gas powered car?

[jimbob200521]

Yep.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Near silent too.

Can't wait to see things like the Tesla Roadster become affordable reality.

 

[imported_goku]

Heh Well thats cause there isn't the lag you have with changing gears, also TONS of low end torque.

 

[Stunt]

Not to mention it's light and small as hell. It's like comparing a car to a motorcycle.

 

[91TTZ]

The reason it ran fast was because it had slicks while the other cars didn't.

They said it ran 11's at only 112 mph. That's a very low trap speed for that ET. The other cars, on the other hand, had a higher power/weight ratio but simply lacked traction. The other cars trap speeds are higher.

With an electric motor, peak torque is at 0 rpm and it decreases from there. Slicks are absolutely crucial to get traction with a powerband like that.

 

[Martin]

That was expected. Still funny how the sound of squeeling tires overwhelms the motor noise.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

a bunch of BS, might as well race it against an F1 car

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
The reason it ran fast was because it had slicks while the other cars didn't.

They said it ran 11's at only 112 mph. That's a very low trap speed for that ET. The other cars, on the other hand, had a higher power/weight ratio but simply lacked traction. The other cars trap speeds are higher.

With an electric motor, peak torque is at 0 rpm and it decreases from there. Slicks are absolutely crucial to get traction with a powerband like that.

Here I thought it was because it was 3/4 of a ton less.

 

[Fenixgoon]

have fun recharging the batteries... 5 minute gas fill FTW

 

[SampSon]

The electric car weighs less than half of the other cars.

 

[halik]

im sure the real ariel atom would run circles around the electric car

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
The reason it ran fast was because it had slicks while the other cars didn't.

They said it ran 11's at only 112 mph. That's a very low trap speed for that ET. The other cars, on the other hand, had a higher power/weight ratio but simply lacked traction. The other cars trap speeds are higher.

With an electric motor, peak torque is at 0 rpm and it decreases from there. Slicks are absolutely crucial to get traction with a powerband like that.

Here I thought it was because it was 3/4 of a ton less.

Nope. If you were more familiar with drag racing you'd understand the reason.

If a great power/weight ratio was the reason, its trap speed would have been much higher. Trap speed indicates your average power/weight ratio over the run. For instance, a motorcycle like a Hyabusa runs 11's at 130+ mph.

High trap speed + low ET = Good power/weight, good traction
high trap speed + high ET= Good power/weight, poor traction
low trap speed + low ET= poor power/weight, good traction
low trap speed + high ET= poor power/weight, poor traction

 

[Scarpozzi]

Weight ratios mean a lot....as well as the difference between an electric motor's acceleration and a gasoline engine's acceleration. Electric motors are just more efficient....gasoline engines are large, heavy, and generate a lot of heat that isn't even used.

 

[Oblivionaire]

Yeah but which one would you rather drive in the rain? That electric car is good for one thing only, racing in good weather. It's not a daily driver but the other 2 cars could be. That was the most unfair comparison I've ever seen. Lets see an electric vs. gas on the same body and chassis.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Weight ratios mean a lot....as well as the difference between an electric motor's acceleration and a gasoline engine's acceleration. Electric motors are just more efficient....gasoline engines are large, heavy, and generate a lot of heat that isn't even used.

I spelled it out in the previous post. It is not due to the power/weight ratio. If it was, it would have a very high trap speed. But it did not. It had a fairly low power/weight ratio. Lower than the other cars, in fact. The only reason it won was because of traction off the line. Any experienced drag racer knows this.

It baffles the mind how a car forum like ATOT can be so interested in cars, yet know absolutely nothing about them.

 

[Triumph]

A pointless comparison. Power is power, whether it comes from an electric motor or a gasser. There are so many other variables here that are different, the comparison to a F430 or Carrera GT is utterly pointless. Besides, no electric motor will ever sound as good as those two cars.

 

[randay]

Yes an electric car can beat a gas car. A man with no car can beat a gas car. A snail can beat a jet airplane. Whats the point of this thread again? Did you actually believe that an electric car couldn't possibly be anything other then slow? 0/10

 

[OS]

the torque curve on electric motors depends on the induction/current type, how the motor is wound, etc. It is not necessarily always "max torque at 0 rpms"

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: OS
the torque curve on electric motors depends on the induction/current type, how the motor is wound, etc. It is not necessarily always "max torque at 0 rpms"

That mostly only applies to brushed motors where you can advance their timing. For anything else in use today, they get peak torque at 0 rpm.

 

[Evadman]

That is an Atom chasis. I would rather have an Atom.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Weight ratios mean a lot....as well as the difference between an electric motor's acceleration and a gasoline engine's acceleration. Electric motors are just more efficient....gasoline engines are large, heavy, and generate a lot of heat that isn't even used.

I spelled it out in the previous post. It is not due to the power/weight ratio. If it was, it would have a very high trap speed. But it did not. It had a fairly low power/weight ratio. Lower than the other cars, in fact. The only reason it won was because of traction off the line. Any experienced drag racer knows this.

It baffles the mind how a car forum like ATOT can be so interested in cars, yet know absolutely nothing about them.

This would apply 100% if it were applied to real drag cars. However these are not. In a comparison of electric to gas engines, the biggest difference would be the torque curves. An electric motor has 100% of its torque available from 0 rpm till its max rpm. Of course hooking up is also important, but I doubt its as hard to do with those cars as it is on dragsters.

edit: I've never owned an electric car so I am probably wrong on something.

 

[daniel1113]

Looks safe, and at $150,000, it's a bargain!

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: randay

This would apply 100% if it were applied to real drag cars. However these are not. In a comparison of electric to gas engines, the biggest difference would be the torque curves. An electric motor has 100% of its torque available from 0 rpm till its max rpm. Of course hooking up is also important, but I doubt its as hard to do with those cars as it is on dragsters.

Nope, the same physics applies to all cars. The calculations involved remain the same regardless of powerplant.

I've often argued with morons trying to tell me that the HP and torque curves don't always cross at 5252 rpm for all engines. They've often brought up fake "evidence" of their friends cars being tuned a certain way, or diesel engines, or electric motors, etc. It's all the same. Anyone with a basic understanding of math should understand why.

And hooking up is extremely hard, even on those cars. Hell, my car is 3500 lbs with 400 hp and (389 lbs of torque at the rear wheels), and first gear is absolutely useless on street tires. No traction. Even Civics will be be seriously affected by traction.

I've run 15's at 108 mph, 14's at 108.6 mph, and 13.0 @ 107.5 mph. Same car, the only difference was traction. Someone with the same car/mods as me used slicks and ran 12.3@108 mph.

 

[OS]

the vehicles website

"Top speed 112mph (electronically limited)"

that would explain the low trap speed.


it also seems to have no transmission which means less drivetrain losses.

then the body of the text says first gear goes to 112, which implies the limit is the spin of the engine. Of course once you add in a transmission you get more parasitic losses and more weight.

 

[91TTZ]

They also did a rolling start. The car's website says the best standing 1/4 mile time is 11.5 seconds.