UC Irvine

The use of electric motors in automotive performance applications has resulted in the development of the electronic differential, and the capabilities stemming from independently-controlled wheels. The potential benefits have been explored before; however, there is little experimental data published on the effects of such a vectored torque system on the performance of an automobile. This thesis will investigate the effects of such a system on a rear-wheel driven Formula-Student class racecar with regards to its performance on the skid pad and track.

Experimental data is collected from the skid pad as well as a modified figure-four course and compared to a calculated estimate to find the optimal torque bias for a given vehicle and driver to maximize cornering speed and stability. In doing so, skid pad and course times were acquired for two test vehicles with a variety of static torque bias settings which were then further implemented on a course. The resulting data indicates that the vectored torque system increases vehicle performance regardless of the driver and aids in controllability of the vehicle.