[ale] OT geek motorcycle?

[Kevin Krumwiede]

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 17:10:29 -0400
Danny Cox <danscox at mindspring.com> wrote:

> 	The main problem with electrics, as always is the throttle, or
> 	more
> precisely, the lack thereof.  The mini-bike had an on/off switch.  If
> you use a rheostat, you lose the energy as heat, and the batteries
> wear down as if you were full throttle all the time.

I wonder how diesel locomotives do it.  Their engines drive generators;
electric motors drive the wheels.  Massive transmissions and drive
shafts are less efficient and harder to maintain, I guess.

IIRC, an electric motor's torque varies with current, and its speed
varies with voltage.  So, what about using a transformer tapped for
various voltages?  It'd be like an electric transmission.

Krum