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To: Jonty30

I watched a video yesterday about the new motors Tesla made for the Model S Plaid.
They invented the process to wind carbon fiber around the motor. Apparently this gives them an advantage over all other EV manufacturers.

I am not an electrical engineer. I trained in college as a mechanical engineer.
Please feel free to add your input for people who understand this better than me.


7 posted on 03/02/2026 6:01:30 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: woodbutcher1963

I built flywheels using carbon fiber. It is definitely the strongest candidate, and can handle significantly higher rotation speeds than metal can, as the video you saw correctly said. However, its mass is lower, so for flywheels, that is a detriment, but for motors, it is a bonus. In terms of electrical currents in the carbon fiber, which conducts electricity as you know, it is minimal since the electrical resistance is relatively high, and there aren’t many free electrons to be affected by the local magnetic field, so the induced voltage will be lower. The coefficient of thermal expansion is also low, so it won’t expand or contract much when it gets cold or hot in Fairbanks or Miami. The hardest part was definitely putting the fiber down in a dense weave, but Tesla acquired the technology via the company I used to do that some years ago. BTW, I have degrees in electrical engineering, physics, and mechanical engineering. More than eighty issued patents.


15 posted on 03/02/2026 10:15:19 AM PST by TruthBringsFreedom
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