[Estaca-Eco-Racing]

What rules are you looking at? I am also a member of a team looking to compete in Formula Student electric, the rules for the 2012 competitions are:

600V max
85kW max

Since the peak power is higher I would recommend using AFM-140. While it does weigh more, you can use a very low reduction ratio (1.5:1 say) and get amazing torque off the line. Since you are limited to 85kW battery current,

85kW / 650 nm = 130 rads/sec / 1.5 gear ratio = 87 rads/sec

87rads/sec / 142rads/sec * 130km/hr = 80km/hr

You should be able to get 1+ g of acceleration until 80km/hr, with a car weight of 400kg or less. While it might be over the weight of the motor, I think in this case you may want to just go for something heavy but powerful.

Also, much higher top speed than 130 km/hr, although I understand this is not important as the race is mainly lower speed tight corners.

Hi charliehorse55,

Yes the rules changed since I posted this thread on the forum. In fact our team was looking at rules that was supposed to be applied for 2012 (400V 60kW) but they finaly didn't choose those rules.

Thank you for your help ! Well, I know that the AFM-140 is great for his high torque, but we won't use all its performance because the battery is limited to deliver at maximum 85kW, and this motor can be used at a peak power of 167kW for 60s, but it won't be possible because of the battery limitation power. If i resume, with this motor we will use it for maximum at the nominal values, which mean that we embark aboard the car a high weight motor which won't be use at its best performances. That's why i was trying to find motor with a lower weight than this one, and that can be adapt to the power required for the car ! Please tell me if my reasoning is wrong, maybe i'm doing wrong since the biginning !


Fabien