Tesla has become a powerhouse of technology and energy innovation but It hasn’t been a smooth ride. While Tesla has successfully weathered several challenges to become the most valuable company in the automobile sector, a large part of its success is owed to its vehicle’s efficient brushless motors.
Let’s learn more about them!
All hybrids produced by Tesla are powered by brushless motors. Also known as AC induction motors, these provide higher torque and are also more cost-effective and reliable than standard EV motors. These brushless motors also create a powerful regenerative braking system.
Car manufacturers use different types of motors in their vehicles, including stepper motors, AC/DC motors, and brushless DC motors (BLDC). Tesla uses BLDC motors in its Model 3 and AC induction motors in the Model S, both being a type of brushless motor.
In this guide, we’ll examine how Tesla’s use of its patented brushless motors has powered its vehicles to the top.
7 Reasons Why Tesla Uses Brushless Motors
Tesla obviously knows the advantages of brushless motors over traditional brushed DC motors. Here’s what we could figure out after comparing the unique motors with standard brushed motors:
1. Electronic Control Provides Better Performance
Brushless motors outperform brushed motors in terms of their performance and efficiency, owing to the use of electronic control. The electronic control allows you to effectively handle the motor’s speed and torque, making all of Tesla’s vehicles easy to maneuver.
2. Larger Lifetime
The lifetime of a brushless DC motor is about six times more than a brushed DC motor.
In a brushed motor, the brushes can create intense sparks, resulting in the motor’s limited life or total burnout. Since there are no carbon brushes packed in a brushless engine, you don’t need to worry about sparks that might cause your EV to overheat or catch fire.
3. Produces Less Rotor Heat
One of the most noticeable benefits of using a brushless motor is that it generates far less rotor heat. With a brushless motor, the drive’s rotor cooling is simplified, allowing the car to break much more effectively than its competitors.
4. Produces Minimum Noise
Compared to their alternatives, Brushless DC motors emit relatively low operating noise. Continuous brush contact, like in an average DC motor, generates noise and sparks due to frequent contact. Therefore, most EV companies such as Tesla prefer BLDC motors to minimize the amount of noise generated.
5. High Torque-To-Weight Ratio
Brushless DC motors come in compact sizes and have a high torque-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for cars as they don’t weigh them down. Due to their low weight, brushless motors are also used for other applications such as robotics and even medical.
6. Provides More Control
EV manufacturers are replacing the mechanical setup with brushless motors, which provide greater control over the car and reduce the risk of failure owing to the previously described causes of wear and tear.
With brushless motors, it is also easier to monitor and control the speed and torque of the motor, resulting in more accurate control of the speed of the car. Due to this, brushless motors are incredibly power efficient which makes them ideal for electric cars.
7. Provides High Torque
Brushless DC motors also offer maximum torque constantly while rotating, but brushed DC motors can only provide maximum torque at a single moment of rotation. Brushed motors would require a stronger magnet than the brushless DC motor if they want to provide the same torque rating.
Consequently, even a small brushless DC motor can provide more torque than a brushed motor.
Here’s a short recap of the differences between brushed and brushless motors:
| Brushed Motors | Brushless Motors |
| Less efficient | More efficient |
| Produces more heat | Produces less heat |
| Shorter lifespan | Longer lifespan |
| Needs more maintenance | Needs less maintenance |
| Provides less torque | Provides more torque |
Drawbacks Of Brushless Motors
Brushless DC motors, like any other motor, have a few drawbacks. Although Tesla produces cars that negate these drawbacks well, you can still find some areas where brushless DC seems to lack. Some of the drawbacks are described below:
Higher Cost
In a conventional motor, we often see the use of inexpensive mechanical configurations involving brushes. On the other hand, a brushless DC motor is more expensive than a brushed DC motor.
The electronic controller used by the brushless motors is another reason why Tesla cars are so expensive since these controllers significantly raise the entire vehicle cost.
Maintenance Issues
Brushed DC motors are simple to run since they have simple wiring. On the other hand, due to the brushless motor’s electronic control and its relationship with the numerous electromagnets, the wiring and maintenance of the motor can get complicated very quickly.
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor In Tesla’s Latest Model Y
Tesla’s latest Model Y, released in 2022, uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), which is another type of brushless DC motor. PMSM is similar to a brushless motor in that it contains permanent magnets, offering high efficiency and traction.
Apart from Tesla’s Model Y, you can find permanent magnet synchronous motors in most cars, such as in BMW i3 and Toyota Prius. The only difference is that this motor has a sinusoidal back EMF, whereas the brushless DC motor has a trapezoidal back EMF.
PMSM offers an even higher power rating, which is significantly costlier.
FAQs
Q) How Long Do Tesla Cars Last?
According to Elon Musk, the batteries inside a Tesla car are meant to last around 500,000 miles. This translates to nearly 35 years, given that an average American travels around 15,000 miles yearly.
Q) Do Tesla Cars Require A Lot Of Maintenance?
No, Teslas require less maintenance than conventional cars, feature fewer moving parts, and do not need regular fluid changes or the use of a combustion engine. Tesla’s maintenance expenses are low compared to the industry and very inexpensive for its premium vehicles.
Q) How To Charge Tesla Cars?
To charge a Tesla at a public charging station, insert the correct adapter into the EV’s charging port and then connect the adapter to the station’s charging port. You can also use a standard 100v plug and the free adapter with the EV for charging purposes.
Conclusion
While brushless and brushed motors have advantages and disadvantages, it is evident that brushless motors outperform conventional brushed motors in almost every aspect. Whether it’s hosting minimum noise, effective breaks, or high torque, these patented motors by Tesla have got it all!
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