Electric motors are immune to altitude, so?

[dirtdad]

One advantage electric motors have over ICEs is they are immune to high altitudes. Many cars become quite anemic at high altitudes due to the thinner atmosphere, so the engine puts out less power. People who live in Denver can vouch for the effect, it can be significant. ICEs that include superchargers or turbochargers are immune to the effect, btw, which is why you see them used on aircraft so much.

But electric motors are also immune to altitude changes. I live at sea level, so I dont notice the effect. But maybe others have noticed, or maybe there is some practical application or benefits to it. Does anyone operate an eBike at radically different elevations and notice they are faster compared to traffic at high elevation maybe? Are there any electric passenger planes made or in the works? Just brainstorming here, it might not add up to anything, but then again maybe it might.

 

[lostcoyote]

what you gain at higher altitudes is aerodynamic efficiency.
i don't know if it play a major role in slow vehicles tho. it does with aircraft, which is why jets fly at 40,000 feet - the air is thinner, drag is reduced, fuel economy goes up.
i suspect it's nearly negligible with bikes crusing at 25mph tho.

 

[lepton]

I live in Boulder, Colorado (close to Denver), so I regularly run my e-bikes at about 6,000ft, and frequently up in the mountains between 8,000 and 10,000 ft. I've yet to notice any difference at all, at any elevation (including sea level).

 

[Drunkskunk]

There likely won't be any electric pasanger planes any time soon. the energy density of aviation fuel is far more than even the best experimental batteries. in airplanes, its all about being the lightest possable.
there are a few electric sail planes, because the electric motors are slimmer and fit in the airstream better.

 

[lepton]

Electric Passenger Plane: http://www.airventure.org/2007/4wed25/sonex.html

There are a few others around, too. All of them are low power and short distance, though.

 

[Ted_Z]

One thing that does indirectly affect EV's at elevation is the colder climate. Batteries don't like it cold. Back when the EV1 car was around they only leased them in CA and AZ because of the warm climate.