Separate motor for each wheel

rumatt · 11-28-2019, 03:36 PM

Given my PTSD from spending most of the last 15 years driving an open diff, and now driving a Colorado with one... I'm really intrigued by the idea of doing away with diffs forever and having one motor per rear wheel.

The Tesla model S "Plaid" has two rear motors. So does the big Cybertruck. I assume this means there's no diff. I believe the Rivian also has one motor per wheel.

It does put you at a disadvantage compared to locking diffs which can send all the power to a single wheel. Now you're at 1/N (N = number of motors) per wheel.

But it means there's no need for an lsd and the tradeoffs there. I suspect for street driving it'll be just awesome.

11-28-2019, 03:36 PM	#1
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Death to Diffs! Separate motor for each wheel Given my PTSD from spending most of the last 15 years driving an open diff, and now driving a Colorado with one... I'm really intrigued by the idea of doing away with diffs forever and having one motor per rear wheel. The Tesla model S "Plaid" has two rear motors. So does the big Cybertruck. I assume this means there's no diff. I believe the Rivian also has one motor per wheel. It does put you at a disadvantage compared to locking diffs which can send all the power to a single wheel. Now you're at 1/N (N = number of motors) per wheel. But it means there's no need for an lsd and the tradeoffs there. I suspect for street driving it'll be just awesome. Last edited by rumatt; 12-06-2019 at 11:42 AM. Reason: Title