by Burgerman » 21 Mar 2017, 15:58
Theres a few reasons you get less performance, range, and service life with 8mph motors.
They draw about 25% more Amps, on every manoever, turn, ramp, hill, at every speed including indoors. Because they are geared taller. You load the motor more all of the time.
And when traveling at a higher speed you draw more Amps. That wouldn't matter because you also get there quicker so range should be almost unchanged.
But... Batteries, esp gel batteries, suffer heavily from peukerts law. Which states that with lead batteries (only) you get less actual usable Ah out, the faster you discharge them. So going faster empties them faster because you HAVE less Ah available.
Fun no?
That is why I like brushlesss gearless motors. They take you 40% to 70% further per charge at any speed. E.G my new chair has a ISO range of 38 miles instead of 20...
And lithium, takes you twice as far, or more on top...