Traction Motors: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:04, 11 March 2025

Traction motors (TM, for short) are electric motors that vehicles with electric transmissions come equipped with. Traction motors are typically positioned around individual wheel axles, and rely on electricity to be spun and to propel vehicles.

When throttle is operated on electric vehicles, desired electrical power is sent from the power source to the traction motors. On diesel-electric vehicles, this indirectly adjusts fuel injection and engine spin rate in order to output the required electrical power from the generators.

At very low speeds traction motors receive high electric current, producing high torque. As speed increases, however, traction motors produce increasingly more counter-electromotive force. This force opposes the supply voltage, causing both current and torque to drop. The faster the vehicle goes, the more power needs to be supplied to maintain the same acceleration.

When a loaded electric vehicle accelerates, it can be exposed to high current for a prolonged period. Over time, this will warm up the traction motors . Depending on the session difficulty settings , traction motors may trip the respective breaker when they overheat, or much worse - short-circuit and set the vehicle on fire . A very high current surge can trip the breaker even before it comes to overheating, although still at a risk of damage .

At low speeds, especially when climbing positive grades under load, it is crucial to operate the throttle gently, notch by notch and keep the current at a nominal level, by carefully observing the ammeter and traction motor temperature gauges and not letting any go into red.

Electrical powertrain damage can result in individual traction motors seizing to work. Since electric vehicles usually have more than one motor, power will then be distributed to the remaining operational ones. With fewer driving axles on a vehicle, wheelslip is easier to occur, however.

Number of traction motors on a electric vehicle can be supplemented by adding a slug , in order to improve traction .

On some electric vehicles, traction motors can dynamically reconfigure their circuits to better optimize load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and results in brief disengagements of traction motors at certain speeds. This is normal behavior.

Traction motors can only withstand speed up to a certain amount, usually indicated red on the speedometer. Going above that speed can result in catastrophic failure , regardless of whether the traction motors, or the reverser , are engaged or not.

For the traction motors to be operational, respective breakers must be enabled.

Installing an amp limiter or overheat protection gadgets makes it easier to manage traction motors load and temperature.

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 <translate>
 <!--T:1-->
-{{pll|Powertrains Overview|Electric and diesel-electric}} vehicles carry electric motors onboard, also known as “traction motors” (TM, for short). They are typically located around individual wheel axles, and rely on {{pll|Electricity|electricity}} to be spun and to propel the {{pll|Rail Vehicle Types|vehicle}}.
+Traction motors (TM, for short) are electric motors that {{pll|Rail Vehicle Types|vehicles}} with {{pll|Powertrains Overview|electric transmissions}} come equipped with. Traction motors are typically positioned around individual wheel axles, and rely on {{pll|Electricity|electricity}} to be spun and to propel vehicles.
 <!--T:2-->
-When the {{pll|Throttle|throttle}} control device is operated in such a vehicle, onboard systems send the desired electrical power to the traction motors. On a diesel-electric vehicle, this indirectly adjusts fuel injection to the engine, changing its spin rate as needed to generate the required electricity.
+When {{pll|Throttle|throttle}} is operated on electric vehicles, desired electrical power is sent from the {{pll|Electric Powersource|power source}} to the traction motors. On {{pll|Powertrains Overview|diesel-electric}} vehicles, this indirectly adjusts fuel injection and engine spin rate in order to output the required electrical power from the generators.
 <!--T:3-->
-The faster the TMs spin, the more they generate the counter-electromotive force. This reduces the electric current that flows through them and the power output they produce. So, given the same throttle position, if the vehicle is moving slowly TMs will receive higher current than if the vehicle was moving fast.
+At very low speeds traction motors receive high electric current, producing high torque. As speed increases, however, traction motors produce increasingly more counter-electromotive force. This force opposes the supply voltage, causing both current and torque to drop. The faster the vehicle goes, the more power needs to be supplied to maintain the same acceleration.
 <!--T:4-->
-The electric current is important because, if it gets too high, it is what {{pll|Powertrain Overheating|heats up the TMs}}. Depending on the session {{pll|Difficulty|difficulty settings}}, when overheated the TMs may pop the {{pll|Breakers|breaker}}, or much worse – short-circuit and {{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|set the vehicle on fire}}. Very high current can pop the breaker even before causing overheating, although at less of a risk for damage.
+When a loaded electric vehicle accelerates, it can be exposed to high current for a prolonged period. Over time, this will {{pll|Powertrain Overheating|warm up the traction motors}}. Depending on the session {{pll|Difficulty|difficulty settings}}, traction motors may trip the {{pll|Breakers|respective breaker}} when they overheat, or much worse - {{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|short-circuit and set the vehicle on fire}}. A very high current surge can trip the breaker even before it comes to overheating, although still at a risk of {{pll|Damage Overview|damage}}.
 <!--T:5-->
-This is why at low speeds, and especially when climbing positive {{pll|Grade Signs|grades}} under load, it is critical to apply or reduce the throttle gently, notch by notch and keep the current at a {{pll|Driving Efficiency|nominal level}}, by carefully observing the ammeter gauge.
+At low speeds, especially when climbing positive {{pll|Grade Signs|grades}} under load, it is crucial to operate the throttle gently, notch by notch and keep the current at a nominal level, by carefully observing the ammeter and traction motor temperature gauges and not letting any go into red.
-<!--T:6-->
+<!--T:7-->
-The driver must ensure that the current doesn’t lead to uncontrollable {{pll|Powertrain Overheating|overheating of the drivetrain}}.
+{{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|Electrical powertrain damage}} can result in individual traction motors seizing to work. Since electric vehicles usually have more than one motor, power will then be distributed to the remaining operational ones. With fewer driving axles on a vehicle, {{pll|Wheelslip|wheelslip}} is easier to occur, however.
-<!--T:7-->
+Number of traction motors on a electric vehicle can be supplemented by adding a {{pll|Slug|slug}}, in order to improve {{pll|Traction Overview|traction}}.
-As vehicles with electric drivetrains usually have more than one TM, in case of any one failing its power may be distributed to some of the ones that are still operational. Due to the power being distributed to a smaller amount of wheels, {{pll|Wheelslip|wheelslip}} is easier to occur. On the other hand, it is possible to add more TMs to a vehicle and improve its {{pll|Traction Overview|traction}} quality beyond original specifications, by utilizing a {{pll|Slug|slug}}.
 <!--T:8-->
-On some {{pll|Powertrains Overview|diesel-electric}} vehicles, TMs change their circuits at certain speeds to better optimize the load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and it may result in a brief disengagement of the TMs. This is normal behavior.
+On some electric vehicles, traction motors can dynamically reconfigure their circuits to better optimize load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and results in brief disengagements of traction motors at certain speeds. This is normal behavior.
 <!--T:9-->
-TMs can only withstand speed up to a certain amount, usually indicated red on the speedometer. Going above that speed can result in {{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|catastrophic failure}}, regardless of whether the TMs are engaged or not.
+Traction motors can only withstand speed up to a certain amount, usually indicated red on the speedometer. Going above that speed can result in {{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|catastrophic failure}}, regardless of whether the traction motors, or the {{pll|Reverser|reverser}}, are engaged or not.
 <!--T:10-->
-For the TMs to be operational, the TM breaker or breakers must be enabled.
+For the traction motors to be operational, {{pll|Breakers|respective breakers}} must be enabled.
 <!--T:11-->
-Installing an {{pll|Amp Limiter|amp limiter}} or {{pll|Overheating Protection|overheat protection gadgets}} allows prevention of overloading the TMs.
+Installing an {{pll|Amp Limiter|amp limiter}} or {{pll|Overheating Protection|overheat protection gadgets}} makes it easier to manage traction motors load and temperature.
 </translate>
-{{See also|Powertrain Overheating|Electrical Powertrain Damage|Breakers|Electric Powersource|Throttle|Slug|Rail Vehicle Types|Difficulty|Amp Limiter}}
 [[Category:Electric & Diesel-Electric|2]]