AC Motor Single-speed transmission Light weight Less expensive 95% Efficiency at full load More expensive controller Motor/controller/inverter

more expensive

DC Motor Multi-speed transmission Heavier at equivalent power More expensive 85-95% Efficiency at full load Simple controller Motor/controller less expensive

Motor Characteristics
DC Brush Type Peak efficiency Efficiency at 10% Load Max. RPM Cost per shaft Hp Relative Cost of Controller to DC Brush Type 1 Hp = 746 Watts Battery Type Current Lead Acid Advanced Lead Acid GM Ovonic NiMH SAFT NiMH SAFT lithium ion Lithium polymer Zebra sodium-nickel chloride Impact on Vehicle performance Energy Density Whr/kg 35 48 70 70 120 150 86 Range Power Density W/kg 150 150 220 150 230 350 150 Acceleration Life Cycles Per Battery 500 800 >600 1,500 600 <600 <1000 Life Cycle Cost, Replacement Cost Cost on scale of 1 to 10 1 3 8 8 9 10 4 Initial Cost, Replacement Cost 85-89 80-87 4,000-6,000 $100-150 1 Brushless DC Permanent Magnet 95-97 73-82 4,000-10,000 $100-130 3-5 AC Induction 94-95 93-94 9,000-15,000 $50-75 6-8