The Death of RWD
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 509
From: Modesto, CA
Re: The Death of RWD
If people were willing to start back at step one, I think the transition to something else would be fine. But the IC engine has come a long way from it's beginning, and people are accustom to what they can get out of it. So if you take something new and expect it to be equal or close to what the IC has become over 100 years, you’re going to be waiting around for a while. Can you imagine how much the LS1 or LS2 would cost if it was designed and produced in 1912 and available in that day? But now after years of evolution and the manufactures finding ways to get development costs down, something like that is somewhat affordable.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 4,320
From: Memphis
Re: The Death of RWD
RWD is not going to die from FWD and FWD is not going to die from RWD.
The only platform that has the potential to kill both is AWD. It is technically superior from every last standpoint other than the fact that it's added hardware which = a bit heavier, a little more expensive, and possibly a little more to break. But that is becoming less and less the case as time goes on. I bet if you look at the number of models available in AWD today as compared to 10 years ago you'll see a HUGE increase, and I don't expect to see that changing much anytime soon, either.
AWD used to be somewhat handy back in the day for performance use, but these days with modern true stability control systems that keep cars going in a straight line, AWD has become many times more valuable for the purpose of general safety and predictable handling, because it gives the computer 2 more wheels to work with with varying throttle input.
The only platform that has the potential to kill both is AWD. It is technically superior from every last standpoint other than the fact that it's added hardware which = a bit heavier, a little more expensive, and possibly a little more to break. But that is becoming less and less the case as time goes on. I bet if you look at the number of models available in AWD today as compared to 10 years ago you'll see a HUGE increase, and I don't expect to see that changing much anytime soon, either.
AWD used to be somewhat handy back in the day for performance use, but these days with modern true stability control systems that keep cars going in a straight line, AWD has become many times more valuable for the purpose of general safety and predictable handling, because it gives the computer 2 more wheels to work with with varying throttle input.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,400
From: Michigan's left coast
Re: The Death of RWD
Originally Posted by 96_Camaro_B4C
However, oil is cheap and the infrastructure is established, so any sort of transition is going to be slow and not cheap...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
Re: The Death of RWD
Originally Posted by Eric Bryant
And the longer we want to transistion, the more expensive it's going to be. If we really screw up, we won't be left with enough oil to make the transistion. That would somewhat suck.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 96
From: South Jersey
Re: The Death of RWD
Originally Posted by Eric Bryant
Well, most traditional DC motors generate maximum torque at zero RPM, and then it falls off linearly until it reaches zero at maximum RPM. This is due to the back EMF (generator effect) produced as RPMs increase. While that's great for strong off-the-line performance, it limits acceleration at higher speeds (where the squaring effect of aerodynamic forces combines with the fall-off in the torque curve to cause a very rapid decrease in thrust available for acceleration). Locomotives get around this issue by switching the armature and stator windings into different series and parallel configurations in an attempt to smooth-out the power delivery (in effect, it's like rewinding the motor on-the-fly); it's not inconceivable that the same method could be used in a hybrid or fully-electric automobile drivetrain. It's just a matter of money.
The bottom line, though, is exactly what you stated - traditional multi-ratio transmissions go away with hub-mounted electric drive motors.
The bottom line, though, is exactly what you stated - traditional multi-ratio transmissions go away with hub-mounted electric drive motors.
In my collegiate solar-car days we used a DC brushless motor that simulated AC. I think (I was an ME, not an EE). It had a flat torque curve along it's RPM range.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 96
From: South Jersey
Re: The Death of RWD
Originally Posted by 96_Camaro_B4C
You are right, they are not very energy efficient.
But, lots of R&D IS being put into other powertrains, by lots of people (and has been for a while). However, oil is cheap and the infrastructure is established, so any sort of transition is going to be slow and not cheap...
But, lots of R&D IS being put into other powertrains, by lots of people (and has been for a while). However, oil is cheap and the infrastructure is established, so any sort of transition is going to be slow and not cheap...
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