Answered by: Anish Khadgi

1. How much torque (NM) and power (w) is required to accelerate a vehicle weighing 250kgs up a 15degree
incline from 0kph to 20kph

Solution:
Mass of the body, m = 250 kg
Initial velocity, u = 0 m/s
Final velocity, v = 20 kph = 5.55 m/s
Drawing the force-body diagram with the resolution of the forces.

Ignoring the frictional force opposing the up-climb.

Then, we have
The up-hill climb force, Ft= mgsinθ
or, Ft= 250 * 9.81 * sin 15
or, Ft= 634.75 N

The acceleration of the body in up-hill,

Ft= m.a

Or, a = Ft / m

Or, a = 634.75 / 250

Or, a = 2.539 m/s2

Using the equation, v = u + at

Or, 5.55 = 0 + 2.539 * t

Or, t = 2.18 sec

Then, Power (P) = F * v

Or, P = m * a * v

Or, P = 250 * 2.539 * 5.55

Or, P = 3522.86 W
Assuming the radius of the wheel to be 0.33 m,

The angular frequency of the wheel, ω = v / r = 5.55 / 0.33 = 16.818 rad/sec

Then, we have, Power (P) = Torque(τ) * Angular Frequency (ω)

Or, τ = P / ω

Or, τ = 3522.86 / 16.818

Or, τ = 209.596 Nm.

Comments about this question:

I thought I could easily do this question, it felt like these problems have been solved in high school physics- the
mgsinθ ones, started to do and then it was not solving, so started googling- a few videos about resolution of
forces etc.

I may not have solved the question as I don't feel competent- it feels like a trick question that is not solvable too-
but, on the solving part, I found these things and I learnt a few things about EVs, so that was good.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/torque-and-power-required-to-accelerate-a-car-from-0-
60mph.380810/

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71269
 2. A 4-wheeled vehicle has front wheel with mass 15 kgs each, rear wheel with mass 10kgs each and a
rectangular body with dimensions 1mx .5mx.5m. The body weights 25kgs. Find the vehicle's center of gravity
and the normal force on a 15 degree incline.

Solution:

Drawing the diagram of the given body for ease in calculation:

1m

0.9m
0.5m

0.1m

Datum 15kg
25kg
10kg

The weight of the body is to be assumed to be uniformly distributed. Also, assuming the wheels to be placed at 0.1m
from each end. Also, individual front and back wheels are of same weight with same position.

Since, the vehicle body is rectangular, the C.G of the body is at the mid-point of length and breadth, i.e. , 0.5m across
length, and 0.25 m , from breadth

The datum is supposed to be at the left end of the vehicle.

The moment experienced at the body at the datum are

a. From back wheels, Momentback = 20 * 0.1 = 2 kgm

 b. From C.G. of the vehicle body, Moment mid = 25 * 0.5 = 12.5 kgm
c. From front wheels, Momentfront = 30 * 0.9 = 27 kgm

Then, C.G of the body = Momentback + Momentmid + Momentfront / Total Weight

= ( 2 + 12.5 + 27 ) / 75

C.G of the body = 0.553 m from the datum

Second part of the question:

The force-body diagram would be:

The forces under play are

Wnet = The total weight of the vehicle acting from the C.G

This force gets resolved into two forces, W net cosθ and Wnet sinθ

RR = Reaction normal force at the rear wheels

RF = Reaction normal force at the front wheels

FR = Frictional force in the rear wheels

(We assume it is rear wheel drive)

Taking moment about C.G,

RF * (distance from CG ) + FR *(distance from CG ) = RR * (distance from CG)

Or, RF * (0.553-0.1) + FR *(0.25 ) = RR * (0.9-0.553)

Or, RF * 0.453 + μr * RR * 0.25 = RR * (0.347)

Taking μr = 0.02 for car tires on asphalt,

Or, RF * 0.453 + 0.02 * RR * 0.25 = RR * (0.347)

Or, RF * 0.453 + 0.005* RR = RR * (0.347)

Or, RF * 0.453 = RR * (0.352)

Or, RF = RR * (0.352/0.453)

Or, RR = 1.28 RF

Also, we have, for the nullification of forces,

Wnet = RR + RF

or, RR + RF = Wnet * cosθ

or, 1.28 RF + RF = Wnet * cosθ

or, RF = Wnet * cos15 / 2.28

or, RF = 72.444 / 2.28

or, RF = 31.773 kg = 31.773 * 9.8 N = 311.375 N = Reaction normal force at the front wheels

Then, RR = 1.28 RF

or, RR = 1.28 * 31.773

or, RR = 40.670 kg = 40.670 * 9.8 = 398.96 N = Reaction normal force at the rear wheels

Comments about this question:

I thought I could easily do this question,

https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity

http://what-when-how.com/automobile/distribution-of-weight-automobile/
 3. Assume an electric vehicle weighs 250kgs. The vehicle has a 10kwh battery and a 5kw motor.
The vehicle completes 20 kilometers in an hour. It stops 5 times but otherwise maintains a constant velocity.
Assume a 100% efficient drivetrain but assume friction is present. (How much energy is lost to friction is for
you to decide.) How many Wh of battery capacity is left at the end of the trip if the vehicle drives at 20kph
while not accelerating and decelerating. Show your work.

I could not solve this one even after research etc.

However, my attempt is:

Given the situations of the question, the assumption can be made that the speed-time curve would be trapezoidal speed
curve consisting of an acceleration, constant speed run and the deceleration. Also, there is the mention of the vehicle
stopping 5 times, so the assumption is made for 5 rounds of acceleration, constant speed run and the deceleration one
after another.

My attempt would be to find the acceleration of the vehicle getting from initial zero velocity to the velocity of 20 kmph
and then using this to find the duration of acceleration. Using the acceleration, the tractive force in the acceleration can
be found out, then, the tractive force during the run period with constant velocity of 20 kmph.

Total energy= Energy due to acceleration + Energy due to free run (constant velocity) + Energy due to deceleration
 V V V
= ( 12 × F × 3600
t
m
× t ×1000 ) ( F ×
1 + t
m
3600 2
1
×t × 100 0 ) ( × F ×
2
+ t
3600
× t ×100 0 )
m
3

Also, K.E. = 0.5 * m *V m2

or, P* t 1 = K.E

I think solutions of these equations would solve them.

Comments about this question:

This question felt like I could get an answer in 5 mins because it would simply be energy usage in the travel time in Whr
would get deducted from the battery kWh and the answer would come. However, it seemed not like that and I had to
read/ watch a lot and still inconclusive about the answer.

Some good references I found

https://www.engineeringenotes.com/electrical-engineering/electric-traction-electrical-engineering/train-movement-
and-energy-consumption-electrical-engineering/37136

https://www.pluginindia.com/powerandenergy.html
 4. A dc motor controller outputs 3 phase current to a dc electric motor. The controller also outputs wires to the
hall sensor. Create a circuit diagram to switch the polarity of the current and thus make the motor go in
reverse at the flick of a switch.

Solution:

I knew about brushless DC motors from a drone project made by my friends and knew about BLDC motors from
computer fans and more from YouTube channels like Electroboom and GreatScott!

An BLDC motor with three phase output to the motor stator can be run in reverse direction by means of swapping any of
the two phases.

Suppose a BLDC motor has three phase output G-Y-B, then the connection to be made for making the motor run in
opposite direction:

Controller Output Motor Input

G B
Y Y
B G

This can be achieved at the flick of a switch by using two relays of appropriate current rating and fly back diode as
follows:
 Comments about this question:

Note: I think this should work however, references on Youtube show that the Hall Effect sensor wires also have to be re,-
configured by the switch.

Controller Output Motor Input Hall Effect Sensor Hall Effect Sensor
intial reversed
G B G Y
Y Y Y G
B G B B

I knew about the reversing of three phase motors by the method mentioned above but while reading and researching on
the web, these videos helped in understanding more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNpoTPzEkco&ab_channel=MATLAB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJd-upxFemA&ab_channel=MegaPowerServices

I would also request the team to send the actual answers to my email: anishkhadgi4official@gmail.com