Torpid Travelers

Powering our Machines

Simply put, we are living in the golden age of rideable technology, and we spend lots of money on these devices. Rideable technology is made possible by a new generation of electric motors and efficient batteries.

Motors

Electric motors produce linear or rotary force (torque) intended to propel some external mechanism, such as a fan or an elevator. An electric motor is generally designed for continuous rotation, or for linear movement over a significant distance compared to its size.

Motors as Generators

In certain applications, such as in regenerative braking with traction motors as seen in electric bikes, electric motors can be used in reverse as generators to recover energy that might otherwise be lost as heat and friction.

Batteries Explained

Battery cells are usually made up of three main components

  1. The Anode (Negative Electrode)
  2. The Cathode (Positive Electrode)
  3. The electrolytes

On a fully charged battery, the electrons pile up near negative end of the battery and when connected to a light bulb or circuit, the electrond move through the wires and back to the other end of the battery. This continues until the battery has no more electrons and then it is considered dead.

Primary Batteries
Primary batteries are batteries that cannot be recharged once depleted.
Secondary Batteries
Secondary batteries are batteries with electrochemical cells whose chemical reactions can be reversed by charging them back up.

There are several different kinds of batteries that you may have seen.