Latent Losses in 'Lectric Lizzies

Renewed interest in electric automobiles has spawned a large number of publications describing various vehicle propulsion techniques. Most of the motor controller schemes have been described as solid state and lossless. In this context, the term lossless is appropriate since it differentiates the switching type of motor controller from the dissipative variety. The latter controllers employ a matrix of current-limiting resistors for armature control.