@Lee Willis posted:
What is important to me is in not the operating cars I have made, but what I learned in doing so. I think I understand enough to understand the ins and outs of these cars, how they operate, how various factors like tire friction, weight distribution, motor power, steering tiller length, motor size and battery size/voltage affect operation, and how to successfully balance and engineer them.
Lee,
Welcome to powertrain engineering! This precisely what engineers in this field do for a living. I've been looking at these issues professionally for the last 30 yrs straight. You'd be surprised how few there are in industry that really do this type of analysis (and even fewer that know what they are doing!)
Fuel economy and emissions are huge drivers in trying to get the powertrain just right. To your list I would add, engine (torque and logic control), torque converter design, transmission (gear ratio determination and logic control), final drive, tire size and inflation pressure, rolling resistance, Aerodynamics, gradeability, acceleration, top speed, trailer towing and a host of other parameters. All of these elements are examined at nauseum about 3 - 5 yrs before actual production of a given model year.
You've done a great job re-engineering the vehicle.
Could you give us a glimpse as to what the internals look like (either yours or the commercial products)?
Thanks!
