AC or DC Drive for Electric Cars?

by Louis
(Seattle)



Why does one select AC over DC drive for electric cars? I see both kinds of kits offered but I don't understand why one would choose one over the other.

Hi, Louis!
Ah, my favorite question!


Why choose a DC drive system? Drag racing, and low-budget conversions.

Why choose an AC drive system?

First: An AC electric car motor gets the most range for your battery buck. Think 80 miles instead of 30, yes, even with lead acid batteries.

Second: AC is better for highway driving, for a variety of reasons. That expensive controller really earns its keep on the freeway.

Third: AC will drive more like your regular ICE (internal combustion engine) machine, given adequate voltage, while DC has a distinctly different torque curve (more like a golf cart).

Fourth: If there are any hills in your driving range (sorry, small golf cart pun; ), you'll appreciate an AC drive system. DC motors don't excel under conditions of varying load - i.e. hills - and with your AC drive, that expensive controller again earns its keep recapturing the braking energy going downhill.

Fifth: The regenerative braking. With an AC drive system, regen braking is excellent and easy.

Sixth: If you want to convert a heavy vehicle, AC drive is the way to go.

And finally...The major automakers overwhelmingly choose AC drive systems when they build an electric car. I suppose they might have their reasons.

Regards,
Lynne

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Conversion questions.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.