Yes,.. I seem to recall much earlier version required / Dropped upto 1.1v, but seems the current (No Pun intended lol) versions only drop about .7volts, which Isn't really a Huge Issue for Slot Car Tracks, compared to limited Battery Power/life etc, but even only .7v isn't a Huge amount of loss.
I am Unsure about the Maximum Output Voltage adjustment, although I do Not think that is Exactly what Happens, but may in effect be part of what Does happen with whatever 'Throttle' adjustments may provide (ie % variance etc).
As far as Higher Performance version being released by Slot Car companies,.. Hmm,.. I am somewhat unsure of that either Happening,.. OR being Needed as such,... (well atleast Not atm or even in the Near Future necessarily), as there is Already a Huge number of 'Theoretically' suitable Drone style motors, with the simple suitability being the Power Rating/capability of the various Motor models,... all depending on available Track Power voltage etc.
I believe there Are Open Source ESC's & Software being developed, one by Richard Mack, (I think) and also one from somewhere in Europe ?? Some talk of someone in Canada building the suitably Low Voltage requirement ESC' etc, but am thinking is obviously Very Early days.
That being said, There IS the
"Talon 25" unit available, With it's associated USB programming Interface unit along with suitable Software and Firmware Updates to Convert the Talon 25 into a Dedicated Slot Car Controller, which is all relatively Affordable and seemingly Very Easy to do.
Strangely, when I first heard of this and read about it, it was with Dragsters and Wing Cars,.. which Seemed appropriate as you would think Both would tend to suit the Simplicity, (with the Early Dragsters using in effect an Electronic 'Switch' instead of a True ESC as such, so am somewhat surprised by the Serious Development happening in England,.. where Virtually All of Their tracks are Diametrically Different to the 'Norm' of what is run on in the US, being Far smaller, Flatter and tighter etc and No Huge High Power Speed Bowl types of tracks.
More of a Club oriented scenario or EuroSport situation and style of Car etc, so operationally, They MUST be working OK to some degree to function adequately on the Smaller British style of track, where Full Power for Long periods would be rare and would involve far more Slow Turns and small straights etc,.. ??? Who Knows eh,.. go figure.
Some seem to allude to the whole concept being Unsuitable to 'Spec' style racing,.. (especially those that come from the RC World),.. But Seeing what the Theoretical Possibilities could be with The modified Talon controllers,.. I would Imagine a Very 'Controlled' "Hand Out" type of scenario could possibly Work Very well for a True 'Spec' style Class, where the Race organisers would Provide Both the Motors and possibly Even the ESC's as well, (as a Unit), with ALL the ESC's Setup Identically and Motors Checked for Max Voltage / RPM etc.
Once Installed in whatever Chassis was being Used by the Competitors, the Cars could be Held in 'Parc Ferme', to disallow any 'Fudging' by the Individual Racers and Should (In Theory), provide for Very Even Racing and performance,.. for realistically Not a HUGE amount of money, especially considering the Useful Lifespan of Both the Motors AND ESC's etc.
How this may work out In Real Life racing/crashing scenarios is I guess yet to be seen and understood as well as how well the 'Wound' Rotors work and remain true running after many On Track / Heavy 'Off Piste' excursions occur,..compared to the Solid Rotor types.
Anyway,.. as I said, I just thought some may be interested to see and be made aware of the various developments occurring and is possibly something to 'Keep an Eye' on even just for Pure Electronic Interest etc
Talon 25 Conversion Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KXI_k7pv4Y
As a guide, the
Talon 25 is available here in Aus' for about
$84.00 and the often Mentioned
EMAX 1108 motors around
$24.00
The software appears to be Free for the Conversion (as far as I can see) and the USB Programming 'Link' is I think about another $25.00 or so