Electronic speed control

Large, high-current ESCs are used in electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Roadster (2008), Model S, Model X, Model 3, and the Chevrolet Bolt. The energy draw is usually measured in kilowatts (the Nissan Leaf, for instance, uses a 160 kW motor that produces up to 340 Nm torque ). Most mass-produced electric cars feature ESCs that capture energy when the car coasts or brakes, using the motor as a generator and slowing the car down. The captured energy is used to charge the batteries and thus extend the driving range of the car (this is known as regenerative braking). In some vehicles, such as those produced by Tesla, this can be used to slow down so effectively that the car's conventional brakes are only needed at very low speeds (the motor braking effect diminishes as the speed is reduced). In others, such as the Nissan Leaf, there is only a slight "drag" effect when coasting, and the ESC modulates the energy capture in tandem with the conventional brakes to bring the car to a stop.

ESCs used in mass-produced electric cars usually have reversing capability, allowing the motor to run in both directions. The car may only have one gear ratio, and the motor simply runs in the opposite direction to make the car go in reverse. Some electric cars with DC motors also have this feature, using an electrical switch to reverse the direction of the motor, but others run the motor in the same direction all the time and use a traditional manual or automatic transmission to reverse direction (usually this is easier, since the vehicle used for the conversion already has the transmission, and the electric motor is simply installed in place of the original engine).

Electronic bicycle

A motor used in an electric bicycle application requires high initial torque and therefore uses Hall effect sensors for speed measurement. Electric bicycle controllers generally use brake application sensors and pedal rotation sensors, and provide potentiometer-adjustable motor speed, closed-loop speed control for precise speed regulation, protection logic for over-voltage, over-current, and thermal protection. Sometimes pedal torque sensors are used to enable motor assistance proportional to applied torque and sometimes support is provided for regenerative braking; however, infrequent braking and the low mass of bicycles limit recovered energy. An implementation is described in a whitepaper by Zilog on an ebike hub motor controller[5] for a 200 W, 24 V brushless DC electric (BLDC) motor.[6]

P.A.S or PAS may appear within the list of components of electric conversion kits for bicycles, which implies Pedal Assistance Sensor or sometimes Pulse Pedal Assistance Sensor. Pulse usually relates to a magnet and sensor which measures the rotational velocity of the crank. Pedal pressure sensors under the feet are possible but not common.[7]

ESCs designed for sport use in cars generally have reversing capability; newer sport controls can have the reversing ability overridden so that it can not be used in a race. Controls designed specifically for racing and even some sport controls have the added advantage of dynamic braking capability. The ESC forces the motor to act as a generator by placing an electrical load across the armature. This in turn makes the armature harder to turn, thus slowing or stopping the model. Some controllers add the benefit of regenerative braking.

Drone

ESCs designed for radio-control helicopters do not require a braking feature (since the one-way bearing would render it useless anyhow) nor do they require reverse direction (although it can be helpful since the motor wires can often be difficult to access and change once installed).

Many high-end helicopter ESCs provide a "governor mode" which fixes the motor RPM to a set speed, greatly aiding CCPM-based flight. It is also used in quadcopters.

ESCs designed for radio-control airplanes usually contain a few safety features. If the power coming from the battery is insufficient to continue running the electric motor, the ESC will reduce or cut off power to the motor while allowing continued use of ailerons, rudder and elevator function. This allows the pilot to retain control of the airplane to glide or fly on low power to safety.

ESCs designed for boats are by necessity waterproof. The watertight structure is significantly different from that of non-marine type ESCs, with a more packed air trapping enclosure. Thus arises the need to cool the motor and ESC effectively to prevent rapid failure. Most marine-grade ESCs are cooled by circulated water run by the motor, or negative propeller vacuum near the drive shaft output. Like car ESCs, boat ESCs have braking and reverse capability.

Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC) are an essential component of modern quadcopters (and all multirotors), offering high power, high frequency, high resolution 3-phase AC power to a motor in an extremely compact miniature package. These craft depend entirely on the variable speed of the motors driving the propellers. Fine speed control over a wide range in motor/prop speed gives all of the control necessary for a quadcopter (and all multirotors) to fly.

Quadcopter ESCs usually can use a faster update rate compared to the standard 50 Hz signal used in most other RC applications. A variety of ESC protocols beyond PWM are utilized for modern-day multirotors, including, Oneshot42, Oneshot125, Multishot, and DShot. DShot is a digital protocol that offers certain advantages over classical analog control, such as higher resolution, CRC checksums, and lack of oscillator drift (removing the need for calibration). Modern day ESC protocols can communicate at speeds of 37.5 kHz or greater, with a DSHOT2400 frame only taking 6.5 μs.[8][9]

Most electric model trains are powered by electricity transported by the rails or by an overhead wire to the vehicle and so the electronic speed control does not have to be on board. This is however not the case for model trains with digital steering systems allowing multiple trains to run on the same track with different speed at the same time.