MovieChat Forums > Revenge of the Electric Car (2012) Discussion > Why does Tesla Model S use an inverter?

Why does Tesla Model S use an inverter?

posted 11 years ago by mickeyone
1 reply | jump to latest

While reading about the controversial NYT article review of the Tesla Model S, I came across this web site/page:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57569430-48/tesla-the-times-and-h ow-to-drive-an-electric-car/

I didn't even watch the video at first, because I thought it was just going to be more stuff I already had heard about. But I finally did watch it. In one scene they show a version of the car which only has the bottom part, exposing the battery array. In the front, he shows the motor on one side, and an inverter on the other side. The inverter is to convert the DC voltage of the batteries into AC. And I am thinking, now why would they want to do that? Don't electric motors run on DC? Are all electric cars like this? What is the point of converting the DC into AC?

[–] apeweek 11 years ago

Tesla, along with all newer state-of-the-art electric cars, use AC motors, not DC. This is the reason for the inverter.

DC motors require brushes, which is the only item that wears out in an electric motor. They also often require powerful permanent magnets, made with rare earth elements.

Tesla's three-phase AC induction motor contains no rare earths or brushes. It's also engineered to be extremely energy efficient.

In addition, AC motors are easier to use for regenerative braking.

Nikola Tesla, the inventor of AC motors, would be proud.