Why did electric cars lose power with increasing speed

An explanation of how electric cars get maximum torque from the beginning of the movement and why it drops speed

Tesla Model S P100D breaking records of speed and dynamics right and left. No joke, 2.28 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h! Such dynamics just don’t fit in my head! And after all before us not the Bugatti Chiron, is limited in terms of production rare hypercar, and relatively common, the production model of the sedan. Thus, Tesla Model S P100D, it is the fastest mass production sedan for acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h which has managed to set a record as the fastest four-door car on the ¼ mile.

This is all very well and good, but how is a 2.2 ton Behemoth manages to put such records? All a matter of torque. But rather that the maximum level of torque the motors out from the beginning of the movement. You just press on the gas, and the machine provides you with maximum locomotive traction, and with it comes the dynamics. How does it happen? The explanation in the video below.

Understand the technical intricacies, we will help our old friend geek Jason Fenske and video from his channel Engineering Explained. Let’s see how the cars kind of P110D is able to instantly activate all the potential torque from a standing position. The issue is solely in the technical field, but in our opinion Fenske managed to pass him as always the most intelligible and understandable language.

So, how does this electrostan able to leave 11 seconds on the quarter mile?

It all starts with the most important technical symbiosis of two main elements – battery circuit and motors. Their interaction is configured in such a way that they are able to transmit the maximum torque, giving the driver in a peak performance at the beginning of the set speed. True speed, power will inevitably and steadily decline, but more on that later.

For starters, Jason explains the basics of the motor for example a motor with two-pole stator and a two-pole rotor. Everything is simple and familiar to everyone from school physics course. The magnetic field generated by two magnets with opposite poles, with the orientation of the magnetic field from North to South, and passing through the rotor winding current to initiate rotation of the armature. Thus the motor begins to convert electric energy into mechanical energy according to the left-hand rule. Using this rule, you can determine the direction of motor rotation: putting a big, average and index fingers of the left hand perpendicular to each other so that the index finger pointing to the direction of the magnetic field and the middle finger – direction of current, then thumb will indicate the direction of movement of the conductor (the direction of the electromagnetic force).

The fact that when current is applied to the coil you will start the rotation of the motor, but the paradox lies in the fact that, due to the rotation of the motor will produce reverse voltage, “effect generator” which works on the same technical principle as the electric motor, but with the opposite result. Thus there is a reverse electromotive force that will increase with the revs of the motor vehicle.

Thus the working voltage will be equal to the supply voltage minus EMF. Numerically Jason gives the following example: the output operating voltage of 120 V. the Reverse EMF of 100 volts. Thus the working voltage will be 20 V. 120 V – 100 V= 20 V.

Why did electric cars lose power with increasing speed

This explains the fact that peak torque is available at start from 0 km/h, because the reverse electromotive force may occur only by increasing the rotation of the electric motor and the faster it will rotate, the more will produce a negative EMF, which as we have seen detrimental effect on the power output of the system. Add to this the increasing air resistance with increasing speed, the rolling of tires and the resulting slowdown in the dynamics of the set speed of the electric vehicle.