Solar Car Help?
Question:
Answer:
While it is true that having the center of gravity closer to the drive wheels will improve traction, is seems unlikely that the acceleration of a solar car would make drive traction a major issue. Another possibility is that keeping the weight at the rear allows lighter construction at the front, reducing total weight. My reasoning being that (assuming rear wheel drive) the rear has to be strong enough for the drive system anyway, so carrying the batteries also is not a big deal, but if load can be kept off the front it can be made as light as possible.
Assuming it has rear wheel drive, having the motor and batteries in the back would increase traction.
Heinz is right, however for a solar car with very little torque, I would probably balance the weight front and back for better handling.
The distribution is for best traction. The car can be either rear or front wheel drive, but the weight should be distributed so that the higher percentage is over the drive wheels to prevent slipping. The materials used for the tires will also be important to prevent slipping. You are trying to build an efficient car with lightweight materials so the distribution of weight and the materials used will be important.
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