Updates:
I've replaced the MM/XL setup with a high-voltage, hi-efficiency powerplant. I am now running a MGM 9032 ESC and a Neu 1515/2y/F (1100kv) driven by 33V 10S A123s or 8S Lipos. Geared 16/36 on std 2nd gear. Top speed is geared for low 40s (~42 mph on radar.) I have room to gear up still, but this is plenty fast.
Basically the aim was to be able to keep the A123 cells and go to a hi-eff setup, and not have to up in cell count. In short, any setup that draws more than 70A really needs to have a 2P config to not overly draw the cells. That leaves a 10S1P or a 5s2p like I had. Going the HV route, I am able to run the cells I want, but also run @ higher eff which translates to more power to the ground, less wasted heat, and a very smooth and powerful system.
The old system drew nearly 120A @14V to make ~1650W. However, the XL setup was only maybe 70-75% eff. Meaning less than 1250W made it to the wheels, while 100s of watts were lost as heat. It was easy to overheat motor w/o careful driving.
Now I make 1650W with 61A peak @ 27V+. At ~95% eff, that translates to nearly 1570W to the ground an only 80W lost as heat.
===> Extremely powerful and cool running system. The motor never gets very warm. The esc is dead cold.
Here is a torture test. I dumped the full pack
in less than 8min. (Normally I get ~20+min bashing.) WOT thru long wet grass up and down a hill non-stop. Doing this w/ my XL system would over heat the system
fast. I'd see 180-190F on the motor in minutes. Here, final temp is only
112F. The ESC was 85F at the end. Ambient temp was 65F.
Even at that the temps only spiked at the end trying to drive on the dumped pack. Mostly stayed ~100F. This has been a dream system so far. :)
Here's a few setup pics. Not a whole lot has changed from before. The Esc is long, so some care was taken to place it right and protect those huge caps. I re-did the batt straps to be easier and much stronger. The RCM Bash was tearing up my old ones w/ all those roof landings. lol So far I'm very pleased. I've also mounted a RC8 wing on a mugen MBX5T stay which isn't shown.