[ausev] DC or AC motors - which make the best generators?

[m. edmund howse]

Gil,

Actually, every brushed DC motor has regen capabilities. Essentially all 
that is needed is a relay
to switch the input to the motor off and then the output of the motor 
which is now a generator to the charging ckt.

marv

Gil Dawson wrote:
> Here's my impression:
>
> Choosing a design with AC vs DC generators is very similar to the 
> design choice of Alternator vs Generator in an ICE car.  An 
> alternator's AC output is rectified with diodes to drive the charging 
> buss.
>
> The reason DC motors don't show up with regen very often might be 
> because the controller for a DC motor is relatively simple, and so 
> appeals to the individual car builder.  The controller for an AC 
> motor, howevr, is relatively sophisticated yet permits more precise 
> control of the car's handling.  AC controllers, therefore, would 
> appeal more to designers in a competitive market who can recover 
> their engineering costs over thousands of units sold.
>
> You could theoretically add regen features to the design of a DC 
> Controler, but then the controler would cost more, pricing it out of 
> the homebrew market.  Adding regen capability to an AC controller 
> would presumably add a smaller proportion to the cost, yet produce a 
> feature that is known to the public and can be used in marketing the 
> car.
>
> Regen isn't worth a whole lot, anyway.  Individuals can build a fine 
> car without it.
>
> It's interesting how this division between AC and DC favoring 
> distinct design goals echoes the arguments between Tesla and Edison 
> between AC and DC for electrical distribution standards.  Edison 
> favored DC, which would have led to an industry of many independent 
> local power plants each with its own distribution system.  Tesla 
> favored AC, which led to an integrated transmission system, and power 
> plants could be located practically anyplace.  Edison wanted 
> customers for his products.  Tesla wanted to light up the world.
>
> --Gil
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