# What makes the motor in a Tesla electric car so special? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253 "2016-08-19T00:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SHARKBITEATTACK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@SHARKBITEATTACK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHARKBITEATTACK)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/1 "2016-08-19T00:29:52Z")
The motors found in the model S P90D make a ton of hp and rev to like 14,000rpm. Is there anything special about the way these motors are made vs a typical induction motor you’d find in a factory? I know they are water-cooled and they use a variable frequency drive to constantly maintain torque. I’m assuming better bearings and they are wound differently. Any special exotic metals used? How about the thickness of the laminations? Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/2 "2016-08-19T00:53:26Z")
Whenever people ask “what makes (insert branded product here) special?”, the answer is usually: Marketing. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/3 "2016-08-19T01:14:35Z")
I’ve never heard of there being anything all that special about the motor, and I’m not finding anything on Google. Here’s a video about it. Nothing they show about the motor is exotic. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NaV7V07tEMQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Electric Motor: Model S, Tesla Motors") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaV7V07tEMQ) ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/4 "2016-08-19T01:34:43Z")
The Tesla motors are assembled with extra adjectives. They’re not particularly _more_ hi-tech than any other electric vehicle motor. In fact I could guess they’re not current leading-edge design because Tesla may be the one EV manufacturer the makes enough vehicles to concerned about manufacturability and dealer service. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/5 "2016-08-19T01:56:27Z")
They don’t use any exotic materials or anything. They have a fairly high power density as far as these things go–in part, due to a decent liquid cooling system, and in part because they can get away with a low duty cycle. The motor isn’t rated to put out ~400 hp indefinitely like an industrial motor might. Mainly, it’s a good motor because it’s designed for the application. An off-the-shelf motor wouldn’t be as good not because Tesla has better tech, but because the performance of an electric motor depends on the compromises made in its design, and matching those compromises with the demands of an electric vehicle produces a good product. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/6 "2016-08-19T02:27:12Z")
Electric motors put out all of their torque on startup. Tesla built a sports car that takes advantage of that attribute. Previous efforts for EV’s were more focused on miles driven. Elon Musk recognized the performance qualities of electric motors and filled a niche in the car market. The “Ludicrous Mode” option for his Model S is actually faster than the Dodge Charger Hell Cat in the quarter mile. And that’s saying something. The Hell Cat will probably blow by it in the half mile but who drives 150 mph on the street? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/7 "2016-08-19T02:57:20Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Whenever people ask “what makes (insert branded product here) special?”, the answer is usually: Marketing. Sometimes yes, but, have you ever driven the S P90D? I did, on a test drive, and it just _HAWLZASS_! Even with Ludicrous mode disabled, man did that thing go! If you guys ever have a chance to drive one, do it. It is crazy fast, comfortable, and every-day livable. No I did not buy one. I can’t afford it. But boy was that fun! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/8 "2016-08-19T07:48:47Z")
> [@SHARKBITEATTACK](#): > > The motors found in the model S P90D make a ton of hp and rev to like 14,000rpm. Is there anything special about the way these motors are made vs a typical induction motor you’d find in a factory? I know they are water-cooled and they use a variable frequency drive to constantly maintain torque. I’m assuming better bearings and they are wound differently. Any special exotic metals used? How about the thickness of the laminations? > > Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk They’re just polyphase AC induction motors, as you say. Unlike the one in your fridge or air conditioner, they’re better suited to work over a wider range of supply frequencies while most garden variety induction motors are intended to work at 50/60 Hz supply. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/9 "2016-08-19T09:23:37Z")
Yeah, motors with a fixed RPM don’t work so well for vehicles. So before the electronics to deliver variable frequency AC at sufficient power became available electric vehicles used DC motors, which either need big permanent magnets or a way to provide electricity to a moving part, which you both really don’t want if you can avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/10 "2016-08-19T09:30:33Z")
> [@iljitsch](#): > > Yeah, motors with a fixed RPM don’t work so well for vehicles. So before the electronics to deliver variable frequency AC at sufficient power became available electric vehicles used DC motors, which either need big permanent magnets or a way to provide electricity to a moving part, which you both really don’t want if you can avoid it. Variable frequency drives have been around for a while. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/11 "2016-08-23T20:16:26Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The “Ludicrous Mode” option for his Model S is actually faster than the Dodge Charger Hell Cat in the quarter mile. And that’s saying something. The Hell Cat will probably blow by it in the half mile but who drives 150 mph on the street? The newly-announced Tesla P100D is being advertised as the quickest (0-60mph in 2.5sec) production car ever built. The 918 Spyder and LaFerrari are still quicker in this category, but both are million dollar cars. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/12 "2016-08-23T21:40:24Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Variable frequency drives have been around for a while. Yep. Not only have they been around for quite some time, but they are very common in industrial applications, and VFDs quite routinely control motors a lot bigger and more powerful than the motor in a Tesla. The Tesla motor is somewhere around a couple hundred kilowatts. They have VFDs controlling motor/generators in hydroelectric energy storage facilities that operate well up into the megawatt range. It wouldn’t surprise me if they used an off the shelf VFD in the Tesla, though they may have rolled their own just so that they can get some extra cooling into the thing. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/13 "2016-08-23T22:23:03Z")
As far as I know they have been around since the 1970s. Don’t forget that electric trains have been around for a century, so variable frequency electric motors are still relatively new on that scale. The 568 kW of the Tesla S is insane for a car that weighs about two tons. The older trams/streetcars that are in service here in The Hague weigh about 38 tons and only use 360 kW. I believe the electric motor in a Prius is 27 kW. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/14 "2016-08-23T22:47:48Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It wouldn’t surprise me if they used an off the shelf VFD in the Tesla, though they may have rolled their own just so that they can get some extra cooling into the thing. It’s totally custom, and fits in a can [about the size of the motor itself](http://www.pointthepower.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-shot-2015-07-11-at-6.54.06-AM.png). I’d be shocked if there was an off-the-shelf unit that packed a half-megawatt into something the size of a large watermelon. ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/15 "2016-08-23T23:11:34Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > The newly-announced Tesla P100D is being advertised as the quickest (0-60mph in 2.5sec) production car ever built. The 918 Spyder and LaFerrari are still quicker in this category, but both are million dollar cars. Since we’re in GQ, a little nitpick: Tesla advertises the P100D as the quickest **current** production car. The 918 and LaFerrari, although quicker, are no longer in production. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-the-motor-in-a-tesla-electric-car-so-special/763253/16 "2016-08-24T00:45:28Z")
> [@SHARKBITEATTACK](#): > > . I’m assuming better bearings and they are wound differently. Any special exotic metals used? How about the thickness of the laminations? > > Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk [https://www.google.com/patents/US8154167](https://www.google.com/patents/US8154167) > [@us8154167](#): > > Accordingly, what is needed is a low cost and easily manufactured electric motor which achieves the very demanding performance requirements of electric and hybrid vehicles. The present invention provides such a motor design. > [@us8154167](#): > > As described in further detail below, the general characteristics of the illustrated geometry vary in a variety of ways from a conventional induction motor, such variances including, but not limited to, a radial air gap increased over the air gap size of a conventional motor, a shorter axial stack length of the plate stack, wide open stator slots, narrower stator teeth (e.g., tooth height in the range of 4 to 6 times the tooth width), parallel stator teeth, narrower rotor teeth (e.g., tooth height in the range of 4 to 6 times the tooth width), closed rotor slots with thick tooth bridges, parallel rotor teeth, higher stator and rotor yoke widths, an increased number of stator slots per pole per phase, and an increased number of rotor slots. So, no, just an ordinary induction motor, but specifically designed for the application.