Seen what RC is doing with brushless DC motors?
 

This video is pretty impressive. Brushless DC motors are impressive. 120MPH!

http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=17788

Extremely impressive.

We're using a brushless DC motor to power electric bikes up 25% grades for up to a mile and to hit 40 MPH. http://www.asifproductions.com/zvo

As battery technology progresses, several new applications will become practical for electric motors.

Eventually, I suspect cars will be electric. Once they get the battery problem worked out. And when that happens, they'll be smoother, quieter and STRONGER than our cars.

As far as real, practical uses for this technology, I think we're a ways out. The efficiency of the B/L Dc motors is almost perfect. This means that it is a matter of energy supply being the bottleneck. I just don't see batteries getting to that point real soon. After a run like that, those batteries are dead, the amperage pull is sickening! And on a sclae level the batteries there probably represent 70% of the crafts mass! Still neat though.

I fly R/C and have on and off since the mid 60's. I like the electrics because there is a lot less mess to clean up.I'm curently flying a electric duct fan F-86. fun fun fun Randy (AMA 16732)

They had a drag race between an electric car and a ?corvette? the other night on TLC or Discovery. The electric car killed the gas powered counterpart up until a certain point. I caught the very end of the segment but the point was clear.

..and yes battery technology has been VERY very slow to progress.

techweenie - For reference, these guys have got it going on. A very well engineered product.

Regenerative Braking, compact folded-down & weighs only 22 lbs. (as they say; less than most light-weight bicycles) Makes it great to throw in a car, or airplane. . . and only $300 delivered.

Big down-side: doesnt like the wet conditions.

No affiliation .. . I just picked one up after reseaching who made what.

Island, those are cool. I have some drawing I did on something similar a year ago:) I especially liked this line on the site "Max Speed of 15 mph
(governed for your safety) " Translation "it is a 20 second mod to get this thing to kill me speeds":)

Oh, yea, I've got an 1/8th scale Nitro powered buggy. The boy and I will enjoy this hobby in couple years. These things haul too, I can do about 50mph and jump and land 50ft leaps with ease, just good old fun. Amazing how durable and well made these lil buggers are.

lendaddy, I've had my share of cars but they have always been indoor carpet cars. 1/10 and 1/12 cars.Good times ahead for you and your boy. Randy

An engineer buddy showed up with one of these EXkates things.

0-22 MPH in 4 SECONDS (governed for your safety)

Lots of power, but slow to turn, weighs 54 lbs (lots to lug, not easy to carry) . . . cost $1200(a few months ago) .. . but lots of "kill me speeds" power.

I think we will see MANY more powered personal transport products. . .as they become more & more socially acceptable.

The last autox I was at, a guy was using a Honda Hybrid (forget the name), and he did pretty well

sorry, a minor tangent from the topic, but there was talk of the futures hybrids using 2-stroke all ceramic/composite diesel engines.
They'll run on just about any fuel from the Middle East or Nebraska. I like the idea of adding a small turbine for highway speeds:)