Horsepower or Torque?

thecomedian wrote: »

NGO is the spellchecks way of saying bhp
Right, the leaf has a lot of torque and about 100bhp?
But yet it isn't fast. The performance won't be as good as something with say 170bhp and 170lbs of torque.
I'm just using this as an example that Hp is needed for performance.
Even the 535d with bundles of torque still has about 272bhp.

No I never said the Leaf was fast, it's got 110 hp it's heaver than the my generation crv by about 20 kgs, and the Mk 1.5 leaf is about 7 kg lighter but it's also down on torque.

The leaf is about as fast as an average diesel with about 140 hp to 60 mph.

It's been independently tested as having a 0-60 in around 9.5 seconds, while that's not fast as some would say, it is comparable to a modern family diesel.

Even though the crv and prius may not be fast as some would say compared to a 530 D, they are acceptably quick.

Same with the Leaf, it's acceptably quick to accelerate, though the torque is available form a stand still most people find the power delivery for superior to any engine of the same power. And power is instant at any speed. Even though torque decreases with motor speed, whatever is there is instant.

Electric power trains are different, you can't compare them to normal petrol or diesel.

Electrics are limited so you don't need so much hp as you won't be going past 87 mph in relation to the leaf, but you can still have good acceleration.

You could use that 110 hp and have faster 0-60 but you'd loose top speed, or you could have slower 0-100 and a higher top speed.

Electric output depends on the windings, the current going through them and the voltage. Also the reducer gear has a say in it too. And the controller to some degree.

But on average if you want more speed, you increase the voltage or change the windings for speed or torque. Torque can be increased by simply turning up the amps to the motor if the battery/motor can take it.

I know there is a lot of hoo ha here in relation to power = torque x rpm

In an ev if you want more torque you simply increase the current to the windings with the same motor.

My electric bike was as simple as that, If I wanted more torque or faster acceleration I could do 2 things, decrease the diameter of the wheel or increase the current.

Decreasing the wheel size would have the same effect as turning up the amps but I'd loose top speed, to counter act, I simply add more voltage. Obviously the motor is in the hub of the wheel.

If I go the other way and increase the wheel size for more speed, I'd simply turn up the amps to make up for the loss of torque.

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Hang on, you said they were fast!
And I gave you a list of "run of the mill" diesels that were faster
Then you moved back to comparing to a 530d

Yeah fast as your average diesel or faster.

I wouldn't have considered a 520 d to be average car based on sales figures anyway ?

The top selling model is a golf and most likely the 1.6 tdi.

The BMW is the 10th .

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Can't compare that.
The CRV is 2.0 and that golf is only 1.6

You refute the comparison with a 530d because it is a bigger capacity then suggest a comparison with a 1.6?? You make no sense mad_lad, even by prius driver standard :P

The crv isn't comparable to a car with nearly twice the power.

Neither is the crv comparable to the 1.6'golf it's more comparable to the 150 hp diesel golf which would be faster as it's a lot lighter.

But to compare like for like, the crv would be faster than its diesel equivalent.

I was more making the point the BMW isn't an average diesel that the golf 1.6 is most likely more average as you can't get engine stats but only model and fuel.