How Fast Does a 7.4v RC Car Go?

RC cars come in all shapes and sizes, especially when it comes to their central components such as the battery. As a result, you’ll see RC cars come with different max speeds and different battery voltages.

So you might be wondering just how fast can certain RC cars go, particularly 7.4v RC cars. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

How Batteries Impact RC Car Speed

You might think that batteries have little to do with the top speed of an RC car and that it is entirely determined by the motor. Well, you’d be surprised. While it isn’t the main factor, a battery’s strength can have a say in how fast an RC car goes and how well it accelerates.

The extra juice or voltage of a battery can help make the car go a little faster, especially if it is paired with a brushless motor.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that higher voltage will always mean a higher speed. For example, a 7.4v battery can still be faster than a 9.4v battery RC car if the 7.4v RC car has a better motor and better tires.

That means that determining the speed of an RC car involves more factors than just looking at the voltage. However, the voltage can still tell you a little bit about an RC car on its own.

Higher voltages can generally mean an improved top speed because the car then has more power to work with in order to go faster. More volts means more energy that can be sent to the motor.

The RC car still needs to be compatible with the battery from a circuit and electrical standpoint, and the physical components of the RC car such as the tires also need to be capable of handling improved speeds in the first place. Some out of the box RC car kits weren’t designed to be upgraded with components that are too powerful for them, so keep that in mind.

The speed of a 7.4v RC Car

Like with motor horsepower, a battery will have a range of speeds it is likely to achieve. There is no set in stone speed that any specific voltage will reach, as it’s more like a spectrum.

When it comes to 7.4v RC cars, you can expect them to go about as fast as 20 mph. Again, some will be faster and some will be slower. The actual max speed will depend on other factors as well, such as the kind of motor being used.

The type of battery being used is also important. Lithium ion batteries are considered the gold standard, so if you want a 7.4v RC car to be fast, make sure the battery it’s using is made of this material.

Related Reading: How Fast is a 1/16 Scale RC Car

The Bezgar HP161S

To use a concrete example of the relationship between a battery’s voltage and the RC car’s top speed, let’s take a look at the Bezgar HP161S. It’s battery has a voltage of 11.1v, and it’s max speed is 38 mph.

Now, it’s important to note again that the battery’s voltage isn’t the main reason why the HP161S can go so fast. This RC car has great suspension, all-terrain wheels and a powerful brushless motor for added horsepower.

Having said that, the 11.1v battery is definitely having a say with the 38 mph top speed. Since these are small 1/16 scale RC cars we’re talking about, this is pretty powerful. The difference between 7.4v and 11.1v for machines of this size is actually quite substantial.

This means that if the Bezgar HP161S had a battery voltage of 7.4v instead of 11.1v, it would definitely be a little slower. How much slower? That’s very hard to predict, but it would probably be a couple of miles per hour. The Bezgar HP161S would probably only be able to go as fast as 34 mph or 32 mph with a 7.4v battery.

Why Battery Voltage Matters More than Battery Capacity

When it comes to impacting the top speed, battery voltage is what matters. The battery capacity, measured in mAh instead of volts, is what determines range and overall run time. This is important to keep in mind if you plan on upgrading or customizing your RC car with a new battery for the purpose of more speed.

7.4v and 11.1v are two of the most common voltages you will see in RC batteries. When it comes to capacity, 2200 mAh and 5000mAh are the most common configurations.

Keep in mind that while more volts can also mean more speed, it can also mean less time. More volts means that more energy is being spent at once. The faster your car can go, the more energy from the power supply is necessary to consume. While some people care only about speed, many RC car drivers prefer to find a balance between power and energy consumption.

While RC car batteries come in many configurations, here are four of the most common ones that are based on balancing speed and energy:

• 1 V Lipo Battery 3S 50C 5000 mAh
• 1 V Lipo Battery 3S 100C 5000 mAh
• 1 V Lipo Battery 3S 30C 2200 mAh
• 4 V Lipo Battery 2S 30C 5000 mAh

If you don’t want to spend too much time looking for the right battery configuration, use one of these as a baseline when searching for a new RC car to buy. These are all highly sought after 11.1v and 7.4v RC battery types that will deliver a great balance of speed and range.

Conclusion

When it comes to the speed of an RC car, there are many factors at play, including the motor, battery, tires, and more. A 7.4v RC car will give you plenty of speed and power though if that’s what you’re after. In fact, you can even use this type of RC car for RC racing. So if you are wondering whether a 7.4v RC car is a good buy then the answer is certainly yes!

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