Question about the electric race car's whine

[lizardfolk]

So I know combustion engines have a wide variety of sounds depending on their configuration and add turbo and what not. But generally speaking there's a very wide variety of sounds for a combustion engine.

I'm wondering... when Formula E opens up and each team gets to produce or develop their own drive tram... would the electric motor's whine and hiss start to sound different from each other?

[RS2]

I saw a video of the rollout and demonstration and it seems the transmission makes the most noise.

[FormulaFox]

It's a mixture of the transmission and the motor, and electric motor noise tends to be pretty identical - generally it's just the overall volume as the output of the motor increases. The transmissions could provide some variation, but not much. The cars will likely all sound very similar even after the rules are opened up.

[RS2]

It's a mixture of the transmission and the motor, and electric motor noise tends to be pretty identical - generally it's just the overall volume as the output of the motor increases. The transmissions could provide some variation, but not much. The cars will likely all sound very similar even after the rules are opened up.

Electric motors do not seem so loud. The Drayson has direct drive unlike the formula E.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBdsPZN3Q4E

[FormulaFox]

Electric motors do not seem so loud. The Drayson has direct drive unlike the formula E.

They're not terribly loud, but they do produce sound and the higher the output the louder it will be.

FE will probably be louder than the Audi diesels.

Even the Drayson car produces some interesting sound.

[Formula Indy]

Well if they sound anything like the new F1 cars then count me out.

[dirtfan]

Well if they sound anything like the new F1 cars then count me out.

What if they put playing cards in the spokes ?

[lizardfolk]

So going back to this thread...

they had a higher pitched whine than before but that's likely just an increase in power since we saw it test.

i know formula fox said that the cars will likely sound the same even if the rules open up but are there a variety of sounds for an electric motor period? I heard an electric motor scream on a tweaked tesla on youtube (can't find it ATM)

[rrrr]

You're mostly hearing the transmission. I suspect it has straight cut gears like an IndyCar, that type of gear generates a lot of noise.

[Frank Capua]

As I said on another thread it sounded just like my son's power wheel and my grandson's Audi R8... But yeah, my son told me that all we were hearing was the gears. Didn't bother me, but then I'm not bothered by the sound of the F1 cars either. My appreciation of auto racing has always been more dependent on the technology instead of the varoom varoom.

[Grizzlor]

The Formula E cars sounded pretty much exactly like the indoor electric karts I've used for many years. Those cars have no transmission. Not exactly easy on the ears, sounded horrible on TV.

[Carbert]

I think the most efficient electric drivetrain would make no sound at all. Magnets don't make noise. All else is friction.

I suspect that every noise heard in a Formula E car is made by an F1 car. You just don't hear that bit so much when the car is powered by explosions.

[colognecapri]

The Formula E cars sounded pretty much exactly like the indoor electric karts I've used for many years. Those cars have no transmission. Not exactly easy on the ears, sounded horrible on TV.

Anyone who has raced electric, hobby grade, RC cars is familar with that sound also, hate to say it but these drivers battling at the highest level of 1/10th scale RC Touring Car racing is alot more impressive than Formula E, these cars are fire breathing monsters on the very edge of control:

[Jakester]

The Formula E cars sounded pretty much exactly like the indoor electric karts I've used for many years. Those cars have no transmission. Not exactly easy on the ears, sounded horrible on TV.

Formula E or electric karts?
The Formula E car has a 5 speed transaxle, necessary because of the max rpm of the electric engine.

[JohnMc]

Well, you can always stick a baseball card in the spokes.