Algodoo

this is cool

I was thinking if this could work IRL, but I quickly concluded NO it cannot for a number of reasons. One reason is the fact that the wheels trade off making contact with the road. The rumbling sound and vibration would be intolerable, especially at higher speeds.

Q: One reason is the fact that the wheels trade off making contact with the road.
A: If the wheels are as stiff at the ends as they are in the center, and the road is flat, then it should not matter. Wheels could extend past 180° with tapered ends.

Q: The rumbling sound and vibration would be intolerable.
A: The wheels could be counterbalanced in order to minimize vibration.

Q: especially at higher speeds.
A: You may be right.

Consider this scene as a blueprint for making an electric car using a starter motor, batteries, gears, and any extra half wheels you have lying around.

Q: Consider this scene as a blueprint for making an electric car using a starter motor, batteries, gears, and any extra half wheels you have lying around.

A: I would not use a "starter motor" because they are designed to produce high torque at relatively low RPM which means that they draw a LOT of current over a relatively short time period. A starter motor might work in a "dragster" application but not in a car intended to be used for long sight-seeing trips.


More: A good "controllable" motor for a pleasure-cruiser application would be a brushless DC motor with matching electronic speed/torque controller. Certain motors can also provide regenerative braking that helps to charge the battery during coasting and braking.