How Fast Can An Electric Golf Car Go?

[Sunking]

Now that is a fast golf cart.

The place I have gone to is called the Tampa Bay Grand Prix Indoor cart racing. They say those carts get up to 50 mph but it is a closed track with a lot of turns so I wonder what they can do on a straight away.

Here is their website if anyone is interested in trying them out. I am sure there are similar places outside of the Tampa Bay area that do something like this.

http://tampabaygp.com

OK I got you now, I was thinking of something different. They are using DC motors and PWM controller.

[SunEagle]

Now that is a fast golf cart.

The place I have gone to is called the Tampa Bay Grand Prix Indoor cart racing. They say those carts get up to 50 mph but it is a closed track with a lot of turns so I wonder what they can do on a straight away.

Here is their website if anyone is interested in trying them out. I am sure there are similar places outside of the Tampa Bay area that do something like this.

http://tampabaygp.com

[Sunking]

Not sure but if it is what I am thinking of is AC.

DC can be very fast too. Here is the official Fastest Golf Cart using Plum Quick Assassin Motor you can get for around $700, but the motor only last a few runs pushed so hard with over voltage and current using AGM batteries. Can you imagine yourself driving down the highway and getting passed by this?

I would love to do it in someplace like Florida or AZ in one of the Retirement cities dressed up as an old woman wearing golf garb, helmet and racing goggles on with golf bag on the back flipping you the finger as I pass.

[SunEagle]

Well not so much. Old cart would go from 0-20 in just a few feet and top out at 30 a few seconds later. Peak HP occurred at 3000 of 6K or 17 mph.

AC cart is not ready yet, waiting on 4-wheel disc brake and suspension to arrive from states. But I pretty well know about what it should do. It should accelerate from 0 to 35 mph in 7 to 8 seconds where peak torque is good and flat up to 4000 of 8000 RPM motor and decays to 30% at max 8000 rpm so the cart should reach 50 to 60 mph if I were to push it that hard, but not likely around here. I already limited controller to 6000 RPM or 40 mph. To do that requires independent 4-wheel suspension and brakes. However the Regen I can obtain should mean only minimum real braking use wear and tear. Have to wait and see what I end up with.

So what type of motor is used in those electric race track cars? I went to one of those indoor grand prix tracks and those puppies would go pretty quickly from a standing start and stay fast for over a dozen laps.

[Sunking]

You will also win more races by not spinning tires at the starting line. You've matched the motor to the application! I can't wait to see it.

Well not so much. Old cart would go from 0-20 in just a few feet and top out at 30 a few seconds later. Peak HP occurred at 3000 of 6K or 17 mph.

AC cart is not ready yet, waiting on 4-wheel disc brake and suspension to arrive from states. But I pretty well know about what it should do. It should accelerate from 0 to 35 mph in 7 to 8 seconds where peak torque is good and flat up to 4000 of 8000 RPM motor and decays to 30% at max 8000 rpm so the cart should reach 50 to 60 mph if I were to push it that hard, but not likely around here. I already limited controller to 6000 RPM or 40 mph. To do that requires independent 4-wheel suspension and brakes. However the Regen I can obtain should mean only minimum real braking use wear and tear. Have to wait and see what I end up with.

[PNjunction]

My Ac version will not burn rubber or pop wheelies like the DC motor cart could do, but the AC motor will go a lot faster, climb hills better, and go a lot further.

You will also win more races by not spinning tires at the starting line. You've matched the motor to the application! I can't wait to see it.

[Sunking]

Ok. I was under the impression that the AC motor you were talking about was a standard single phase type. The HPEVS AC-20 is a slightly different beast.

Well there are Single Phase Induction Motors but their power ratings are just to low for a vehicle. Bu tif you were to look at a power graph would be about the same except lower power levels.

DC motors are used a lot by DIY EV builders because they are inexpensive for both motor and controllers, and commercial EV manufactures primarily use 3-phase induction motors. My Ac version will not burn rubber or pop wheelies like the DC motor cart could do, but the AC motor will go a lot faster, climb hills better, and go a lot further. AC motor will also outlive a Brushed DC series, shunt, and SEPEX motor. Look at RC airplanes, heli- and cars all now use 3 phase induction motors.

[SunEagle]

AC induction motors are more efficient than any of the DC motors. With a DC motor, torque is inverse proportional to current and RPM. A DC motor produce the highest torque and consumes the highest current at 0 RPM, and at 0 RPM hp = 0. Voltage determine RPM in a DC motor assuming no torque is needed. Here is a typical graph of a DC series motor.




Now compare that to a 3-phase AC induction motor I am using with a HPEV AC-20 motor. AC motors can be set up to be either constant torque or hp.



Quite a bit of difference. Of course AC motors for golf cart and LSV are expensive thus why DC motors hang around. Having siad that DC motors still have their place as they produce very good torque at low RPMS for use in something like the worlds largest coal mine shovel and some diesel locomotive train engines, although trains are switching to AC motors for their braking ability.

EDIT NOTE: Here is a better link to the AC motor power graph.

OOPS I posted Peak, here is Continuous.

Ok. I was under the impression that the AC motor you were talking about was a standard single phase type. The HPEVS AC-20 is a slightly different beast.

[Sunking]

So using an AC motor and inverter is more efficient than a DC motor that losses torque at high RPM?

AC induction motors are more efficient than any of the DC motors. With a DC motor, torque is inverse proportional to current and RPM. A DC motor produce the highest torque and consumes the highest current at 0 RPM, and at 0 RPM hp = 0. Voltage determine RPM in a DC motor assuming no torque is needed. Here is a typical graph of a DC series motor.




Now compare that to a 3-phase AC induction motor I am using with a HPEV AC-20 motor. AC motors can be set up to be either constant torque or hp.



Quite a bit of difference. Of course AC motors for golf cart and LSV are expensive thus why DC motors hang around. Having siad that DC motors still have their place as they produce very good torque at low RPMS for use in something like the worlds largest coal mine shovel and some diesel locomotive train engines, although trains are switching to AC motors for their braking ability.

EDIT NOTE: Here is a better link to the AC motor power graph.

OOPS I posted Peak, here is Continuous.

[Sunny Solar]

Here In Philippines signs are also totally ignored same goes for lane markings.. 4 marked lanes will give at least 6 lanes of vehicles. Road deaths are high compared to much higher number of vehicles in say Australia.. Reason Motorbikes have about4000 serious accidents in Manila alone in a year. Helmets are compulsory but??? Jeepneys give occupants serious injuries and deaths due to zero safety features. and lots of solit steel parts to hit inside the vehicle in an accident.Busses have many deaths due to lack of maintenance and suspension/drive train/brakes failure. In the provinces serious motorbike accidents and many deaths due to gross overloading 150cc bikes with poor tires and brakes with up to 6 passengers. and of course no helmets. Its life Jim but not as its known in western countries.

[SunEagle]

Nah one of a kind down here. Had to sell my carts before coming down here and started another build. This time used AC motors as they perform quite a bit better as they do not run out of torque as RPM increases like DC motors. I use it to get around town and can go fast enough as to not get ran over. Driving down here is kind of dangerous as there are not many traffic controls like pesky Stop and Yield signs at intersections. Locals thin it is pretty cool. One elderly gentleman thought it was magic because the cart is silent other than tire noise hitting the pavement.

So using an AC motor and inverter is more efficient than a DC motor that losses torque at high RPM?

I understand the "driver beware" attitude where everyone is out for themselves like they own the road. Yet I would expect the ratio of traffic deaths to "vehicle" owners lower there then compared to a small US State?

[SunEagle]

Here we have all the signs but they are considered advisory only - most everyone ignores them.

As opposed to the traffic signs in the US being a requirement yet people still ignore them here.

[russ]

Driving down here is kind of dangerous as there are not many traffic controls like pesky Stop and Yield signs at intersections.

Here we have all the signs but they are considered advisory only - most everyone ignores them.

[Sunking]

Do they have "golf cart" races where you now live or is your new design just to get up and down the mountains faster?

Nah one of a kind down here. Had to sell my carts before coming down here and started another build. This time used AC motors as they perform quite a bit better as they do not run out of torque as RPM increases like DC motors. I use it to get around town and can go fast enough as to not get ran over. Driving down here is kind of dangerous as there are not many traffic controls like pesky Stop and Yield signs at intersections. Locals thin it is pretty cool. One elderly gentleman thought it was magic because the cart is silent other than tire noise hitting the pavement.

[SunEagle]

The Title was an attention getter. It is actually a motorcycle with side car in the picture that did it. The reference to Golf Cart is a joke because a lot of folks call any electric vehicle a Golf Cart. EV's are now entering the competition events like drag racing and land speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats where this event took place. I thought it was interesting because I kind of know the husband/wife team who designed and built the bike. For now they own the world's fastest electric motorcycle.

As for the clubs I am sure he kept his putter tightly tucked between his legs when he set the speed record. He made two passes going and coming. 241.xx something and 239.xx on the return pass into the wind. That is really fast on 3-wheels

Do they have "golf cart" races where you now live or is your new design just to get up and down the mountains faster?