.. I try to maximize performance while minimizing energy consumption.
If both type of axles provide the same torque to the road, doesn't a diff accomplish both? No binding & less resistance.(on pavement or a hard surface)
The live axle set up seems to waste so much energy & momentum when turning. (on pavement or a hard surface)
With an ICE/live axle set up you just kinda use brute force to muscle thru everything & the clutch or TC takes the abuse when things don't add up.
An electric powered kart is different. Since they are usually direct drive (no clutch) the motor takes the abuse & the batteries take some stress too. All Bad!
I agree! A live axle is definitely more fun off road!
But, your still wasting energy.
I'm not sure..
in fact I rather doubt it tbh..
Yes, in corners the live axle has it's disadvantages.. BUT
there is not much additional load on the motor because of that
as opposed to going straight.
it'll wear the inside tyre which yes.. wasting energy.
But the torque is taken by the axle itself not the motor..
the motor only has the sprocket to work against and that's the only speed it cares about.
And with a differential you have additional friction no matter if your going straight or in a corner (second set of bearings needed to support the half-axles)
And as you'll certainly know differential gears wear down over time..
means they too remove energy from the system (just like a chain and sprockets)
but instead of just in corners, that energy is also 'wasted' on straights no matter if the differential has to do it's job or not;
not to mention the additional weight.
And in case one wheel slips (mud, wet cobblestone, leaves [october's visible from here])
you waste ALL the energy to a rotating wheel on a stationary kart.
I can't tell what adds up faster,
the constant minimal waste of a set of bearings and contacting surfaces of the diff gears or the rubber removal in corners, but I'm pretty certain that as soon as you have a free spinning wheel on the diff, you basically lost the energy competition already.
Exaggerated:
in quick corners, (like you see on racing karts) the inner rear wheel lifts off the ground, and there's no additional loss at all with a live axle.
doing the same with a diff and you'll have 100% loss
So if you're about energy efficiency, then the weight of the diff is the first thing you should care about
'sid
PS bob, suspension, more than one seat, wheels larger than 14" and you have a buggy... a mini buggy perhaps, but a buggy...
add a diff and you have a fancy mini buggy
But no worries mate.. buggies are welcome as well (but
personally..please don't call it Kart
)
