Comments on: GM to Open Electric Motor Plant

By: Herm

Herm — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:16:32 +0000

lets clear this up, regen braking does not mean the motor spins backwards.. it still spins in the same direction but with added drag that slows down the car. The wheels are driving the motor, not the other way around.. just the same way that normal brakes work. No gears or clutches are needed.

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:50:48 +0000

jeffhre: Using a reduction gear with the AC induction motor saves the expense, weight and complexity of having a transmission. Without the ability to reverse the polarity of the traction motor, how will reverse be actuated with only a simple reduction gear?

You mis-understand. Yes the polarity of power is reversed to make the car back up. The article says that there is a separate reverse spinning motor (while the car is going forward) for capturing braking energy. To have one motor spin in one direction and a second coupled to it spinning in the opposite direction requires gears. There is no need to spend money on gears when just reversing the wires on the motor would accomplish the same thing for no cost at all.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:08:03 +0000

I’m very excited to the Volt so close to production. Additionally I’m very proud of how the US auto makers are incorporating higher efficiency into vehicles, be it through hybrid technology or EREV, while at the same time improving on the quality of the overall vehicle lines. As a current Prius owner *ducks quickly* I am looking forward to my next vehicle displaying a Chevy or Ford symbol on the grill!

I’m proud of GM; I like what they are doing and the products that they have in the pipeline. I hope they experience tremendous success with the Volt and it’s sibling EREV vehicles. It’s good to see this kind of excitement and innovation in American products again, and to see industry leadership coming out of Detroit once more.

Go get’em GM!

Best regards,
Scott

By: joe

joe — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:51:05 +0000

Dave G: How can that be?Are you saying that both motors are connected to the wheels?How else could the motor/generator that is connected to the ICE recover kinetic energy during braking and coasting?

Yes, I believe that will be the case. The motor/generator will be physically hooked to the wheels to recover kinetic energy.

By: jeffhre

jeffhre — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:57:27 +0000

Roy: I still reject the “reverse spinning” concept,

Using a reduction gear with the AC induction motor saves the expense, weight and complexity of having a transmission. Without the ability to reverse the polarity of the traction motor, how will reverse be actuated with only a simple reduction gear?