Electric motor versus IC engine reliability ?
Discussion
Following on from the what if your engine blows up stuff,
I know that engines don't break that often, they are amazingly reliable, am just interested if the electric motor as fitted in EV's like the Leaf, Tesla etc will be less, similar or more reliable ?
Battery issues aside, I suspect they will be more reliable, less friction, simpler and generate less heat and vibration, as far as I am aware they dont have oil and water to leak out.
Do electric motors wear out ? I am sure they do like anything else, but how long does it take, as I said, they are simple, one moving part (commutator ?) versus god knows how many in an IC engine, there is a bearing either end but other than that ? they dotn have brushes any more, surely there is something that wears out and can be replaced. Is there any routine maintenance to do ?
Will "engine" (motor) failure in an EV be a non issue ?
I know that engines don't break that often, they are amazingly reliable, am just interested if the electric motor as fitted in EV's like the Leaf, Tesla etc will be less, similar or more reliable ?
Battery issues aside, I suspect they will be more reliable, less friction, simpler and generate less heat and vibration, as far as I am aware they dont have oil and water to leak out.
Do electric motors wear out ? I am sure they do like anything else, but how long does it take, as I said, they are simple, one moving part (commutator ?) versus god knows how many in an IC engine, there is a bearing either end but other than that ? they dotn have brushes any more, surely there is something that wears out and can be replaced. Is there any routine maintenance to do ?
Will "engine" (motor) failure in an EV be a non issue ?
I would have thought that they should be much more reliable. As you say, much fewer moving parts, much simpler, much less to go wrong, and presumably not exposed to the incredible forces a combustion engine is, so wont fatigue as much. Heat might become a problem for some applications, but I'm sure it's simple enough to develop cooling systems.
But, I'm no engineer and am just speculating
But, I'm no engineer and am just speculating
Just about all electric machines in passenger cars are water cooled these days, as the power density is pretty high.
However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
Max_Torque said:
Just about all electric machines in passenger cars are water cooled these days, as the power density is pretty high.
However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
Informative as always.However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
Do they design new motors for car applications, adapt existing or buy off the shelf ?
J4CKO said:
Max_Torque said:
Just about all electric machines in passenger cars are water cooled these days, as the power density is pretty high.
However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
Informative as always.However, they are very reliable generally, because the number of moving parts is low.
Principal causes of failure are:
1) Bearing failure
2) Seal failure
3) Stator winding failure
4) Power semiconductor failure (inverter)
5) Demag of rare earth magnetics
Lifeing estimates for things like the inverter DC link capacitors is a bit of a new science in passenger car applications, with all current systems erring on the side of caution by massive margins. However, as the cost cutters get involved and sales volumes increase meaning designers can design their own components (rather than using off the shelf ones) these margins will reduce.
Do they design new motors for car applications, adapt existing or buy off the shelf ?
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