EVs in reverse

[RossP]

Daft question alert!

I'm guessing there is no reason why an EV can't (in theory) go as fast in reverse as it can forward?

I know they have fixed gearing but is there a physical gear movement for reverse or is the motor run backwards?

[toys]

Not a daft question at all - and I think that the motor must run backwards.

So, who is going to be the first to go for a 93 mph run backwards?! Or much more likely discover what speed BMW have set the limiter...

[anonymous-user]

Purely an "electronic limit". No hardware reason why it wouldn't be able to go just as fast backwards as forwards............

[Sir Humphrey]

Went to look at a Leaf today and the salesman said that theoretically it will go backwards as fast as it will go forwards (presumably limited by the fact you'll crash it before reaching top speed) and that some people do hillclimbs in them backwards

[Simoted]

I'll have to give it a try!

[Dave^]

Sir Humphrey said:

....Leaf....salesman said....that some people do hillclimbs in them backwards

[Sir Humphrey]

Dave^ said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/goodwood-festival-of-speed/9370276/Nissan-Leaf-races-up-Goodwood-hillclimb-in-reverse.html

[Save Ferris]

On Toyota Hybrids, reverse is just the motor running backwards. Not tried a high speed run yet though!

[mcflurry]

Top Gear US did this in Series 4, with a Leaf.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_(U.S...

wikipedia said:

Challenge 2: Electric cars are supposed to have the same amount of torque going backwards as well as forwards. So, to test the torque, the three each had to drive their cars as fast as they could in reverse. Each of them set a goal of beating the world record for reverse driving, which is 55 miles an hour. Tanner goes first, but only hits 20 miles an hour. Adam goes next, and only hits 27 miles an hour. They then suspect that all three cars were limited to 20–30 miles an hour for safety. But when Rutledge takes his turn, he hits 57 miles an hour. When Tanner and Adam accuse him of cheating, he admits that he had the limiter removed from the car. Despite this, he still claims victory. Winner: Rutledge

[Dave^]

Sir Humphrey said:

Dave^ said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/goodwood-festival-of-speed/9370276/Nissan-Leaf-races-up-Goodwood-hillclimb-in-reverse.html

Oh come on!! That's just one stunt driver cocking around... next he'll be saying that "people drive them on two wheels"!!

I wanna see people trying it at Shelsy/Harewood...

[porker9xx]

Stock Lamborghini Diablo does 65 mph in reverse.

[Caruso]

When the wheel speed sensor went on my Vectrix, it developed the ability for full power in reverse which caught me unawares the 1st time.