To say that remote-controlled vehicles have come a long way would be an understatement. With the advanced technology we have today, the creation of these vehicles is state of the art, so unlike years before with the cheap versions, the models of today are designed to be truly lifelike in colours, details, and features.
Not surprisingly, the RC hobby offers a great deal of fun for people of all ages. Part of this fun comes from the variety of models available to pick from at specialised hobby stores. But, before you can get to enjoy the challenges this hobby provides, you’d have to consider an important vehicle aspect – where they get the power from.
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Electric Vs. Nitro
There’s been an ongoing debate for quite some time now as to whether the variety of electric rc cars for sale is better than the nitro-powered ones. To understand what separates the two options, it’s best to consider certain differences based on a few categories, such as the following:
The Motor of the Electric
What’s specific about the electric type is of course the motor which requires fuel in the form of electricity. This is why you need a rechargeable battery pack to provide this electricity to get the vehicles going. Speaking of the motor specifically, there are two types you can choose from:
1.The Brushed
What characterises this one is the small contact brush that converts energy by causing the motor to spin, hence the name. It’s the most commonly used option with the toy-grade and beginner hobby vehicles, though it’s starting to lose popularity to the brushless because of the heat and friction the brushes produce – both at the expense of performance.
Depending on whether or not you want to modify the versatile electric rc cars, you can pick from the fixed and nonfixed alternatives. The first type of brushed differs from the latter in the sense that it doesn’t allow you to tune or modify it.
2.The Brushless
Despite the high prices, these motors are continuously gaining popularity among RC hobbyists mainly because of the power they provide. Also known as ECM (Electrically Commutated Motors), they’re built with windings on the stator, and permanent magnets are on the rotors, so as not to require the use of brushes.
Thanks to this, they’re ideal if you’re on the lookout for motors that rid you of the frequent cleaning chore. Moreover, since electric rc cars for sale equipped with brushless motors are better at handling high voltage supplies, they offer a great deal of speed. Not surprising is the fact that even nitro-powered RC vehicles can fall in the shadow of brushless RC vehicles because of this very aspect.
The Engine of the Nitro
Unlike the electric with their motors, nitro RC vehicles function with small combustion engines. As such, instead of batteries, they rely on actual fuel to operate. Much like the full-size gas-powered vehicles, they have everything, from carburettors and air filters, to flywheels, and clutches, glow/spark plugs and crankshafts, all the way to fuel systems.
As fun as this may be, it’s not that great for beginners who are more interested in driving than doing maintenance which is why they’re better off with the practical rc electric cars. In addition, because of the engine, the nitro vehicles are also notably loud.
Although this is a property that many RC hobbyists enjoy, not everyone else does. So, depending on the area where you live, you may not be allowed to have fun with one of these vehicles. If it’s lightweight models you’re after, you also won’t get this from the nitro counterparts because they require the use of metal bits, as in the case with the chassis, since they tend to overheat.
Due to this, they weigh more than the electric rc cars for sale and may be harder to operate for some beginners. However, all these cons aside, certain pros to them still attract the most dedicated of enthusiasts. For instance, despite the more challenging upkeep, like the after-run maintenance with the fuel, you’d still be able to reap the benefits of bigger runtime as well as lower costs to power them up. This is especially true if we compare them to powering electric cars with a pack of lipo batteries. However, keep in mind that you can always have an extra pack of batteries to replace the empty ones.
Unlike dealing with battery recharge which can take up some time (in some cases even up to an hour), you can expect to drive your nitro-powered car for up to 20 minutes or more depending on your speed and tank size. And, once you’re out of fuel, simply refill the tank and you’re good to go – no need to waste precious minutes of fun waiting on recharges.