Here is a thought. When a dual engine plane has one of the engines malfunction it can continue to fly and land on the remaining engine. I would hope that the same holds true for a 2 or 3 hub motored Aptera.
12 comments
Like
12 Comments
Commenting on this post isn't available anymore. Contact the site owner for more info.
Could you tell me if the cable or wire coverings are soy based, and how sealed is the underside of the vehicle? The rats and critters in Florida love to nest in the cars and chew the wires
This would also save energy. It would be best if the driver could choose between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and all wheel drive to decide what is best for the situation. Only the rear wheel motor for acceleration and donuts. Only the front wheel motors when the rear wheel is stuck.
Would it really save energy? Are electric motors more efficient at higher power (i.e. one motor running at 30 kW is more efficient than three motors each working at 10 kW)?
@loswa It would actually be better for the Aptera's AI to make those decisions based on what would be the most efficient use of power at any given moment: In addition, I'm perfectly happy for the vehicle to decide (for example) if "coasting" is more efficient than regen or to determine the amount of regen it needs - without my interference.
With the 3 motor version, will it be possible to "turn off" the front motors if there is a problem with front motors or tires, in order to "limp home" with just the single back wheel? Seems like a relatively simple software fix which would make the vehicle virtually unstoppable, making it worth the extra money to get the AWD option.????????
Electric motors are extremely reliable. It is the tires that fail often on a wheel. Next would be the wheel bearings, adding much heat and friction. Driving far on a flat tire or a failed bearing is not a good idea. I hope the Aptera will be able to detect, notify you and act intelligently in those much more common situations.
I wonder if torque steer is caused by the differential giving most of the torque to only one front wheel. If so, there would be little to no difference with one hub motor out. eGolf somehow has little to no torque steer already, so maybe the same system could be applicable to 1-sided hub motor failure.
From what I understand the steering rack is manual with assistance from the hub motors to help turn the wheels while moving slowly. If one front hub motor where to go out there car would be always forced into a max turn by the functioning wheel. If both front hub motors were to die than the car could be too difficult to turn while moving slowly.
Could you tell me if the cable or wire coverings are soy based, and how sealed is the underside of the vehicle? The rats and critters in Florida love to nest in the cars and chew the wires
This would also save energy. It would be best if the driver could choose between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and all wheel drive to decide what is best for the situation. Only the rear wheel motor for acceleration and donuts. Only the front wheel motors when the rear wheel is stuck.
With the 3 motor version, will it be possible to "turn off" the front motors if there is a problem with front motors or tires, in order to "limp home" with just the single back wheel? Seems like a relatively simple software fix which would make the vehicle virtually unstoppable, making it worth the extra money to get the AWD option.????????
We had already discussed this here in the forum, this variant comes a little later 😁
Maybe the wheels can rotate 90 degrees and become propellers so the driver can fly home.
Electric motors are extremely reliable. It is the tires that fail often on a wheel. Next would be the wheel bearings, adding much heat and friction. Driving far on a flat tire or a failed bearing is not a good idea. I hope the Aptera will be able to detect, notify you and act intelligently in those much more common situations.
I wonder if torque steer is caused by the differential giving most of the torque to only one front wheel. If so, there would be little to no difference with one hub motor out. eGolf somehow has little to no torque steer already, so maybe the same system could be applicable to 1-sided hub motor failure.
Maybe not full speed but software limited to "slow and sure" just to avoid a tow situation.
I can imagine variants 1 and 2,
but the variants 3 (failure right or left) and 4
no longer sufficient for driving stability.