5 Ways to make your electric RC car go faster

5 Ways to make your electric RC car go faster

By Joe Rich

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.

GLOBACT 550 Brushed Motor 12T and 80A ESC Brushed Motor ESC Combo ESC Dual Mode BEC 5A 7.4V/6.4V for 1/10 RC Truck Car Slash 2WD 4×4 Arrma Granite Senton Typhon 4×4 Redcat Axial HPI(XT60 Plug)
  • 🏆【Compatible with】Suit for 1/10 Electric RC Truck Car Off Road Slash 2WD 4×4 / Stampede 4×4 / Bandit / Rustler / F-150 Raptor / Replaces 550 12 Turn Motor (Part # 3785), Arrma Senton 4×4 550 / Granite 4×4 550 / Typhon 4×4 550, Redcat Axial HPI Wltoys Etc.
  • 🏆【Multiple protections】Low voltage cut-off protection for lithium or nickel battery / Over-heat protection / Throttle signal loss protection. Note: The ESC signal cable has reverse connection protection, The power cord has no reverse connection protection.
  • 🏆【Waterproof】 The high-quality components. Applicable to All Weather Conditions, The waterproof and dust-proof design allows the Globact 550 motor 80A esc Brushed to be used in all weather conditions without any issue of damage causedto the ESC from water or dust.
  • 🏆【Dual Running Mode】ESC supports BEC high voltage & low voltage switching (5A 7.4V/6.4V), Crawlers & High Speed Dual Mode switching, Input voltage: 7.4V(2S Lipo, Note: Not compatible with 3S Lipo battery), 6V-8.4V (5-7cells NiMH). Note: It is recommended to use crawlers mode for crawlers vehicles and high-speed mode for trucks.
  • 🏆【High quality】This Set is an enhanced package. The conventional 550 motor set ESCs on the market are all 60A. We use 80A ESC, which can better solve the fire problem caused by the overcurrent and overload of the ESC, so that you can use it without worry.

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.

Bestseller No. 1
Spektrum Firma 6500Kv Brushless Motor, SPMXSM2800
  • Spektrum Firma 6500Kv Brushless Motor, SPMXSM2800
SaleBestseller No. 2
WIAORCHI 1/16 RTR Brushless Fast RC Cars for Adults, Max 68+KMH Electric Off-Road RC Truck, High Speed RC Car 4WD Remote Control Car with 2 Rechargeable Batteries for Boys
  • Brushless Motor: Hobby 2845 4200KV, 4 pole high-torque motor with metal heatsink and cooling fans design. Independent receiver and 45A ESC make this RC car more potential and upgradeable.
  • Durable and Efficient Transmission: Metal gears and metal differential better distribute power to achieve a perfect 4WD, in which the 5.5MM diameter axle and M4 nuts contributed. The smooth effect of 16 ball bearings reduces power loss.
  • Application of new materials: The material developed for the honeycomb chassis is strong enough to withstand the impact of this monster truck. This car features the F/R zinc metal reinforced sheet and adjustable pull rod with the 2.1kgf.cm in torque force 3-wire servo, sufficient for various terrains.
  • Driving Quality: The tire (Pre-mounted sponge inserted) and oil-filled absorbers greatly reduce the shaking of the truck when driving at high speed. Calmly deal with all kinds of jumps and stick to the ground firmly.
  • Excellent Performance: Ideal for big jump, popping wheelie and back flipping stunts, 2S rechargeable LiPo battery and brushless motor bursts out at 42+ mph (68+ kph) for adults. 2.4GHz 3-Channel Radio with light bar control, 70% throttle limited switch great for beginners or kids boys.
Bestseller No. 3
DEERC Brushless RC Cars 300E 60KM/H High Speed Remote Control Car 4WD 1:18 Scale Monster Truck for Kids Adults, All Terrain Off Road Truck with Extra Shell 2 Battery,40+ Min Play Car Gifts for Boys
  • 【60 KM/H Super Fast & 4×4】With powerful motor which runs at a high speed of 90-95m/s, You can reach maximum speed up to about 60KM/H 35+ MPH. Featured with 4 wheel drive and supported by 4 independent suspensions, the RTR remote control truck can gain strong power and a marvelous protection from collisions and a great increase on minimum safe dropping altitude. Give you endless exciting entertainment from off-road and on-road environments.
  • 【2440 Waterproof Brushless Motor & 25A Brushless ESC】 Equipped with a strong brushless electric motor, the speed and lifetime of this sandy truck will be greatly increased. The life of the brushless motor is 2-3 times that of the brushed motor, and the power consumption is only 1/3 of the brushed. With the waterproof brushless ESC, you have 8 acceleration, 8 timing options and multiple protection. DEERC 300E High speed monster truck is ready to rip, just don’t blackout from excitement.
  • 【2 High Capacity 1200mAH Batteries & One Extra Shell】The Radio Control Cars are equipped with 2*7.4V 1200 mAh rechargeable Li-Po batteries. The RC car for boys and adults will run for up to 20 minutes for each battery. 2 batteries for 40 minutes running! The extra red cover makes it easier to choose the color you like and adds another guarantee to your car. Expand your enjoyment and manufactured for high RC Racing performance.
  • 【2.4Ghz Accurate System】Pistol Grip transmitter has full digital controls with proportional throttle and steering for smooth racing and turning with integrated 2.4GHz technology allowing up to 12 vehicles to run at the same time. Adjust the speed switch clockwise to increase driving speed, and adjust the speed switch counterclockwise to decrease the driving speed. Our hobby grade RC car can be easily controlled within a range up to 328 feet. Suitable for any level RC vehicle enthusiast.
  • 【All Terrain & Off-Road RC Car】Constructed with all metal sealed ball bearing and the oil filled metal shocks(need to fill the oil by yourself), anti-skid rubber tires, anti-vibration shock absorber and nylon chassis, the cross-country car is ready to run, whether it is sand, mud, stone rugged mountain roads. Comes fully assembled, straight out of the box. Good for indoor and out door. Decent car toy gift for adults and children of different ages. Racing with your family or friends.

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.

Sale
Zeee 7.4V Lipo Battery 2S 50C 5200mAh Lipos Hard Case with Dean-Style T Connector for RC Car Trucks 1/8 1/10 RC Vehicles(2 Packs)
  • 【Zeee 7.4V 5200mAh Lipo Specification】- Battery Voltage: 7.4V; Configuration: 2S1P; Cell Voltage: 3.2~4.2V; Capacity: 5200mAh; Discharge: 50C; Plug: Deans T Connector.
  • 【Dimensions】- Zeee 5200mAh 2S lipo dimension is: 138*47*25mm/5.43*1.85*0.98inch; Approx Weight: 250g/8.82oz.
  • 【Application】 – Zeee 2S 5200mAh Lipo battery specially compatible with 1/8 and 1/10 rc car, Losi, HPI Strada XB 1/10 RTR Electric Buggy, Team Associated, Axial, Duratrax, Emaxx, Bandit, Rustler version, etc. (Only if the voltage, dimension and the plug match, then it will fit).
  • 【Safety Warning】- 1. Users must read safety manual before use of the battery; 2. You must use Lithium Polymer(LiPo) specific charger only; 3. The charge rate should not exceed 1C; 4. Never charge the battery unattended.
  • 【What you get】- 2 Pack of Zeee 7.4V 50C 5200mAh 2S Lipo Battery Hard case with Dean-Style T Connector. Any product problems, please Contact US: 1. Enter into “Your Orders” to click “Contact Seller” option; 2. Click “Ask a question” on our storefront. We will get back to you within 24 hours.

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.

Tires can make all the difference

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.
Hobbypark Outer Diameter 2.99 inch / 76mm Rubber RC Car Tires & Wheel Rims Foam Inserts 12mm Hex Hub (4-Pack)
  • Check size. Tire Size:Outer Diameter Approx 2.99”(76mm), Width: Approx 1.18” (30mm), Drive Hubs:12mm Hex, Tires NOT glued on Rims.
  • Compatible with: RC Car Touring Racing On Road
  • Tire Material:Rubber; Wheel Rim Material :Plastic,Drive Hub:12mm Hex
  • Package include: Set of 4
Shaluoman WR8 Tarmac Wheel with Tires for HPI Rally Off-Road WR8 Tyres Pack of 4 Black
  • Outer Diameter: 80 mm
  • Tyres Wide:35mm
  • Have foam inserts
  • Note Front and Rear the size is the same
  • Tires, rims without adhesive, You can be split
GDOOL 4PCS 12mm Hub Wheels,1:10 63mm Hard Plastic RC Drift Cars On Road Touring Racing Bald Tires for Traxxas HSP Tamiya HPI Kyosho On-Road Drifting Car Trucks(Black)
  • ✔【Compatible with Various Models】It compatible with 1:10 1:12 1:16 RC Car,for example HSP94122 94123 94103 3850 3851 FW06 XV01 TT01 TT02B TT-02 18868 16889 16889A 16890 144001 A959B Off-Road Buggy RGT WRC/3RACING D5 On Road Touring Car and so on;
  • ✔【Delivers Racing Excitement】The rally tires for dirt road,as well as being suitable for use on flat,great for drifting, thus giving you the excitement of racing;
  • ✔【High Quality】This kind of rim hub is made of high-quality materials, moreover these tires are composed of hard plastic,with high wear-resistant & high crush-resistant to make your rc car more durable.
  • ✔【Specification】The RC Wheel Tire Size:Outer Diameter Approx 2.48”(63mm), Width: Approx 1.02” (26mm), Drive Hubs:12mm Hex, Tires NOT glued on Rims.
  • ✔【What you Get】4x RC Car Tires Wheels and Plastic Wheels Sets & ​4x Wheel Lock Nut(The tire is not glued on rim. It’s mounted on rim with foam inserted)

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.

Sale
48P 19T 20T 21T 22T 23T Pinion Gear with Screw Driver for 3.175mm Shaft 1/10 RC Brushless Brush Motor by MakerDoIt
  • 【Durable】Durable metal construction for long-lasting performance.
  • 【More Funny】Provide the option of being able to change your gear ratio for different track conditions.
  • 【💡】48P is the pitch of each tooth on the pinion gear and the 19T 20T 21T 22T 23T is the number of teeth on the pinion gear. You have to make sure your spur gear and pinion gear have the same pitch, or the teeth won’t mesh.
  • 【3.175mm】The pinion gear shaft diameter or bore is 3.175mm, make sure your RC motor shaft have the same diameter.
  • 【Gear Combo Set】Comes with set screws for each pinion gear, the pinion gear combo set also included a screwdriver, easy to install.
JFtech 7075 Aluminium Metal 48P Spur Gear 85T for 3Racing Sakura D3 CS S XI XIS RC 1/10 Drift Car Upgrade
  • Metal 48P Spur Gear 85T for 3Racing SAKURA
  • This is a Metal 48P Spur Gear 85T, use to upgrade for 3Racing SAKURA D3 CS S XI XIS RC 1/10 on-road Car
  • Suitable for most 1:10 on-road belt drive car, also can use on some shaft drive car.for example: SAKURA S XIS CS D3 XI R31 G31 MST…etc.
  • Top Quality Materials & Superb Craftsmanship,7075 material to make the gear more harder
  • Please attention, because of the motor gear and this spur gear are metal, suggest to add lubricating oil, not only to reduce the friction between the metal gear, but also the sound will be a little bit small.

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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