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Motor selection for ATV (max torque). Top speed doesnt matter

seriousGarage

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May 11, 2026
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Hi all, pretty simple question but one i cant get my head around due to various motor options available. I like the look of the QS motor lineup.
The ATV is a simple single axle chain drive. My aim is to use it around my property for garden related jobs/pulling a trailer/cutting grass/transporting items etc so i want maximum torque and do not need any real top speed as such. 30 - 40mph would be adequate (If i can reduce it down that much)
I plan to use EV battery modules and am aiming for 63v simply due to the modules ive researched and can get hold of within budget.
Im aware high current is the way to high torque, as well as suitable gear ratio
I'd like to try and do this on a 'low' budget.
I was initially thinking i'd need a big mid drive like qs180 but looking at youtube videos of various mx bikes with qs138's i dont know if these would suffice? Would they be too small? Could they shed the heat built up under reasonably high load conditions or would the larger motors be more suitable? I assume one with gear reduction built in would be best to make the drive/driven sprocket as small/large as i can fit/source? The atv would be normal atv weight which i think are around 150 - 180kg, + 80kg rider
Thanks for any help/advice offered
 
If you have one, a start might be to tell us the horsepower of the existing engine in an ATV. That plus any more remarks about "too fast" or "not powerful enough" could orient us towards the motor size that would be useful.
 
Why not go for the QS165 60h with the internal reduction drive , bigger than the QS138 and with the gearbox easyer to use than the QS180 and cheaper too.
 
If you have one, a start might be to tell us the horsepower of the existing engine in an ATV. That plus any more remarks about "too fast" or "not powerful enough" could orient us towards the motor size that would be useful.
I never rode the atv with the engine fitted, it was bought as a non-runner, so i wouldnt know if it was 'enough' or 'not enough' however on paper, according to the internet, the engine was 14hp
 
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Why not go for the QS165 60h with the internal reduction drive , bigger than the QS138 and with the gearbox easyer to use than the QS180 and cheaper too.
Of course, i am open to whatever suitable is suggested. I tried to check the torque specs of the motors but once the sizes got to qs138+ they all seemed to be in similar ballpark and only the max kW increased which i wasnt concerned about.
I believe the '60h' is the magnet size? Is there a point of diminishing returns vs cost as you increase the magnet size?
Thanks for replies so far, i wish QS just stated prices on their website
 
Why not go for the QS165 60h with the internal reduction drive , bigger than the QS138 and with the gearbox easyer to use than the QS180 and cheaper too.
QS also lists that motor as being fitted with encoder not halls. Will that work with the fardriver controllers?
 
This is manufactured by Trisled in Victoria here. The relevance is that it is powered entirely by one of Grin's wheelbarrow motors. It's certainly possible it does not meet your performance needs, but it may be interesting to review:

Trisled Sherpie
 
I'm doing an Arctic Cat UTV conversion with 2 QS180, what I am seeing is you need to gear it substantially to get the torque. I'm at about 6:1 and it isn't nearly enough.
 
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