By Joe Rich
Table of Contents
5 Ways to make your electric RC car go faster
Electric Radio-Controlled (RC) cars are miniature vehicles that are powered by a battery and controlled with a remote. They come in various sizes, from small-scale models to large 1/8th-scale models that can reach speeds of up to 65 mph. Electric RC cars offer a unique experience as they can perform stunts, drift around turns, and even race against other cars. They require minimal maintenance and provide hours of entertainment for both children and adults alike. With the right upgrades, you can make your electric RC car faster, allowing you to improve your lap times or just have more fun.
You may have been thinking how can I make my electric RC car go faster it may feel a little pedestrian because it is still in bog standard mode as it came out of the box?
No more a challenge for you and you feel that the time has come to get a little more oomph out of your favourite model car then here are 5 ways to make your electric RC car faster.
Making your RC car go faster is not to difficult it depends on how much you want to spend and how fast do you want to go.
Upgrade parts can be expensive and if go to mad and spend loads of money on the fastest and best equipment around you could end up with something that cost the earth but is totally uncontrollable, so one thing at a time.
Benefits of making your RC car faster
The benefits of making your electric RC car faster include improved lap times, better handling, and more exciting entertainment. With the right upgrades, you can customize your car to your specific needs, whether it be for speed or manoeuvrability. Increased speed also adds an element of excitement and challenge to racing, making it a more thrilling experience. Additionally, faster cars can result in better-looking stunts and more impressive performances. Ultimately, making your electric RC car faster can help take it to the next level.
Safety considerations when making adjustments to your RC car
Safety should be a top priority when making adjustments to your electric RC car. It’s important to make sure that all components are properly secured and installed correctly, as these cars can reach very high speeds. Additionally, you should inspect the vehicle regularly for any damaged or worn parts which could pose a safety risk. Be sure to replace any broken or missing parts promptly, and never put yourself or other people in harm’s way when operating an electric RC car. Finally, it’s wise to use protective gear such as glasses and gloves when working on or driving your car.
Tools and materials needed for modifications on a RC car
When making modifications to your electric RC car, you’ll need a range of tools and materials. This includes screwdrivers for tightening and loosening screws, wrenches for nuts, pliers for gripping and cutting wires, a soldering iron for soldering / unsoldering components, and various adhesives like super glue or epoxy. Other than that, you’ll likely require some hobby-grade plastic cement to secure parts in place.
We have an article 12 Essential tools for RC cars click here to read.
Upgrade the motor
The first and most obvious item to upgrade is the motor
Most RC cars are come fitted with a brushed motor and for good reason they are cheap low maintenance and reliable.
Going for a brushless motor is the next step depending on which motor you choose the cost can be considerably more also there will be additional costs that come with a motor change.
You will need to upgrade the batteries and esc (electronic speed controller) some stockists sell these as a combo set so you might be able to get a good deal.
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What is a RC car Brushless motor
Simply speaking a brushless motor has no brushes causing friction when the motor is turning, less friction means more efficient use of the power provided by the batteries and thus more speed.
We have article explaining all about brushed and brushless motors click here to read.
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Upgrade a to LiPo batteries.
Another easy upgrade to make your RC car go faster is change the batteries.
From the really heavy NI-MH or NI-CADS to the extremely light Lipo this may have been a essential change when the motor was upgraded, the NI-MH NI-CADS may not enough power for the upgraded motor so you will see no improvement in performance. Lipos are a higher voltage, make sure all your other electronics can cope with the increase.
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NI-MH Vs lipos
NI-MH or Nickel metal hydride are great for RC car beginners because they cheap and quite durable but they do lack power, take a long time to charge and are very heavy not what you want when trying to make your car go faster.
LiPos are the best and essential choice when it comes to making your RC car go faster they are powerful very light can be charged several times a day the only caution with LiPos are that care must be taken when charging and storing always follow the manufactures instructions.
We have an article all about LiPo battery maintenance click here to read.
Battery care for both types.
- Use a peak detection charger.
- Make sure battery is completely discharged before charging.
- Do not charge a hot battery you must let it cool first. (not LiPos)
- Use a battery charging bag when charging LiPo batteries. Click here to read.
Battery do nots
- Do not overcharge your battery.
- Do not let the battery get to hot.
- Do not short the battery.
- Do not use a damaged battery.
- Do not throw batteries in the normal rubbish take them to a recycling centre
We have a article The complete RC car battery guide for beginners click here to read
Why a larger battery pack can result in increased speed
Increasing the size of your electric RC car’s battery pack can increase its speed. This is because a larger battery pack will provide more power, leading to higher motor torque and quicker acceleration. Furthermore, when using a bigger battery pack, you’ll be able to use more of its energy and therefore go faster without draining it too quickly. Ultimately, any modifications you make must suit your car’s design, so it’s important to ensure that any changes are safe and appropriate for your vehicle before attempting them.
Reduce weight
By putting your RC car on a diet can be a big part in increasing speed as previously discussed changing the extremely heavy NI-CADS for the smaller and lighter LiPos is a great start in the RC car weight loss boot camp.
Retailers stock loads of light weight replacement parts these can be made out of aluminium, carbon or graphite.
One thing to bear in mind that if you go to far on the weight saving you might lose traction so again a little bit at a time.
Change tires
Tyre choice is very important get the right tyres for the right surface to maximise grip and get the maximum power out of your motor.
For tarmac and smooth surfaces use slick tyres for mud or slippery surfaces use medium to full spikes.
Always buy good quality tyres these will give you better grip, another thing to consider is the size of the tyre the benefits are bigger contact patch and better turn coverage.
This is when more ground is covered per rotation of the tyre.
Changing the size of the wheels and tyres can also have a small difference in speed. It is similar to changing the gear ratio.
Do not go overboard otherwise you will have a negative effect.
Some tires and models benefit from click here to read our article all about inserts.
Types of tire
- Slicks these tyres are for smooth tarmac and high grip surfaces.
- Spikes these tyres are for wet grass and mud.
- Pins these tyres are for real off road uneven surfaces.
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Change the gear ratio
Of all the upgrades we have talked about this is probably the cheapest but the easiest to get confused about.
First do you want acceleration or top speed either is achieved by changing the small pinion wheel and the large spur gear by changing them can be pain as some dismantling of the transmission is needed.
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More Acceleration
If acceleration is wanted you will need smaller pinion gear and a larger spur gear because you now have more torque.
Your car will now accelerate off the line quicker and the benefit of this is the motor and electronic speed controller will run cooler which will lower the wear rate.
The down side is a lower top speed this gear set up is good for short circuits with lots of corners and short straights.
More Top speed
If top speed is wanted go for a larger pinion gear and a smaller spur gear although the top speed will increase the down side is slower acceleration another drawback is the motor and electronic speed controller will run hot. If you go to large with the pinion wheel the motor and esc will get so hot that they could cut out so go careful.
This set up is good for circuits with few corners and long straights.
Why does my RC car not go fast?
There could be a few reasons why your RC car is not reaching its top speed. One possibility is that the batteries are not fully charged. Another possibility is that there is something blocking the wheels, such as dirt or debris. Finally, it could be that the motor is not working properly. If you have checked all of these things and your car still isn’t going as fast as it should, then you may need to take it to a hobby shop for further diagnosis. With a little troubleshooting, you should be able to figure out why your car isn’t reaching its full potential.
We have an article all about how to diagnose faults on a RC car click here to read.
In conclusion.
These are 5 ways to make your electric RC car go faster i hope you will be able to use some or all of them.
Try these tweeks one at a time get used to the way the car has altered the way it accelerates or handles then move on the next upgrade and you will see just how much more you will be able to get out of your electric RC car.
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