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Tesla Model 3's motor - The Brilliant Engineering behind it

Sabin Civil Engineering
Explainers
YouTube
2 HN users recommended this explainer2 months2020–2022 score 2
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN recommends it as a clear explanation of the Model 3 motor and reluctance rotor design.

An engineering explainer on why Tesla abandoned the induction motor for the Model 3 and used an IPM-SynRM design. It covers the reluctance torque and permanent magnet principles behind the choice.

“This youtube video describes it rather well, and I'd recommend giving it a watch” (HN, 2022)

2 recommendations · 3 citations · Explainers · intermediate

5 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@londons_explore Aug 2022 Recommends
on HN thread A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor
A tesla Model 3 motor already is partially a reluctance motor. This youtube video describes it rather well, and I'd recommend giving it a watch [1]. Notice the air gaps - thats the reluctance part of the rotor. [1]: [this video]
Explains Model 3 motor's reluctance rotor design

Citations, criticism and jokes

@iknowstuff Apr 2021 Cites it
on HN thread Lithium battery costs have fallen by 98% in three decades
> The engineers of Tesla motor's shocked everyone when they abandoned the versatile induction motor in Model 3 cars. They used a totally different motor called IPM-SynRM. Let's understand why the Tesla engineers made this crucial design change. [this video]
Explains why Tesla chose IPM-SynRM motor in Model 3
@b3nji Aug 2022 Cites it
on HN thread A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor
> A tesla Model 3 motor already is partially a reluctance motor. This youtube video describes it rather well, and I'd recommend giving it a watch [1]. Notice the air gaps - thats the reluctance part of the rotor. > [1]: [this video] I dont think he's using air gaps? "Instead of using air gaps, Sansone thought he could incorporate another magnetic field into a motor."
Quoting parent's recommendation of the Model 3 motor video
@ilyt Nov 2022 Cites it
on HN thread The stick shift might survive the electric revolution
> What sort of motor do you think a Tesla model 3 uses, for example? IPM-SynRM [this video] They went into a lot of effort to optimize it over RPM range. If you want to make a point use real motor curves at least. Your graph suggests it goes to sub 20% efficiencies at low speed which is completely false and would suggests way higher gains from gearbox than in reality. Hell, it would suggest ICE like performance, it's THAT bad.
Shows the Model 3 uses an IPM-SynRM motor

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