Is Tesla AC or DC?

[DiJoseph]

Tesla electric vehicles use alternating current (AC), not direct current (DC). Additional information is as follows: 1. Energy efficiency and high power: These are the greatest advantages of rare-earth permanent magnet synchronous motors compared to asynchronous motors. Asynchronous induction motors do not have permanent magnets on the rotor, nor do they require commutators or brushes, offering benefits such as simple structure, ease of manufacturing, and good reliability. However, because asynchronous induction motors are singly excited, they require more current to generate unit torque, leading to higher energy consumption. Generally, permanent magnet synchronous motors are over 20% more energy-efficient than asynchronous motors. Energy efficiency is crucial for new energy and hybrid vehicles, meaning that without increasing battery capacity, vehicles with synchronous motors can achieve a longer range under the same conditions compared to those with asynchronous motors, and hybrid vehicles can also see effective reductions in fuel consumption. 2. Asynchronous induction motors: Another major drawback in automotive applications is their lagging power factor. The stator carries reactive excitation current, resulting in lower power (especially in the constant torque region), which in turn limits vehicle performance. Disadvantages in energy efficiency, compact size, and lightweight design have led to the widespread use of asynchronous induction motors in industrial drive applications. However, domestic companies differ in this regard. Currently, many hybrid city buses in China use asynchronous motors for propulsion. 3. Rare-earth permanent magnet synchronous motors: They can achieve compact size and lightweight design, which are difficult for asynchronous motors to accomplish. Due to the lower torque density of asynchronous induction motors compared to permanent magnet synchronous motors, achieving small size and lightweight is challenging. For new energy vehicles, especially hybrids, compact size and lightweight are crucial.