The Real P5 ?

[Rob Croson]

Engines are combustion while motors are anything other than combustion. So the Tesla has a motor.

Those terms are mostly interchangeable, and subject to personal preference. An internal combustion engine is both and engine and a motor. An electric motor fits the definition of an engine. The steam turbines on submarines are referred to as "engines", even though there's no combustion involved. (Unless there's an emergency, in which case you have bigger problems than semantics...)

 

[Johnny Acree]

More than you want to know
http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/engine.htm

 

[AriLea]

Those terms are mostly interchangeable, and subject to personal preference. An internal combustion engine is both and engine and a motor. An electric motor fits the definition of an engine. The steam turbines on submarines are referred to as "engines", even though there's no combustion involved. (Unless there's an emergency, in which case you have bigger problems than semantics...)

It all depends on who's technical context you are using. From an engine engineering view, (AFAIK) engines produce power from a static raw source such as fuel, and motors convert power into 'work'. An ICE does both, converting fuel into PPSI, and that then into work(4 cycle engine). In this professional context you wouldn't consider electricity as static, so an electric motor isn't an engine. A fuel cell-motor combo would be a full cycle engine-motor.
Anyway the best way to navigate the pitfalls of terms around transportation is never say just motor. Say electric motor (or a motor type like AC-Motor or DC-Motor), or car engine (or engine type such as Petrol Engine or Methane-Engine or ICE).
A 'car-motor' is an acceptable indiscriminant, but flawed use of terms.
But commonly we all save effort and get lazy, and so it degenerates into always having to know the context, and if any confusion results, asking.

 

[cantwait]

LOL

Elio Motors Inc. (not Elio Engines Inc)
Motorcycles (not Enginecycles)
Motorboats (not EngineBoats)
Ford Motor Co (not Ford Engine Co)
Department of Motor Vehicles (not Department of Engine Vehicles)

I could go on, but hopefully you all get the idea.

 

[Karnaj]

LOL

Elio Motors Inc. (not Elio Engines Inc)
Motorcycles (not Enginecycles)
Motorboats (not EngineBoats)
Ford Motor Co (not Ford Engine Co)
Department of Motor Vehicles (not Department of Engine Vehicles)

I could go on, but hopefully you all get the idea.

Yah, there's a lot of stupid people that don't look up definitions

 

[cantwait]

Yah, there's a lot of stupid people that don't look up definitions

I suppose you're right, with or without the adjective. Let's make it easy on them:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/motor
motor
noun
1.a comparatively small and powerful engine, especially an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like.
2.any self-powered vehicle.
3.a person or thing that imparts motion, especially a contrivance, as asteam engine, that receives and modifies energy from some naturalsource in order to utilize it in driving machinery.
4.Also called electric motor. Electricity. a machine that convertselectrical energy into mechanical energy, as an induction motor.
5.motors, stocks or bonds in automobile companies.
adjective
6.pertaining to or operated by a motor.
7.of, for, by, or pertaining to motor vehicles:
motor freight.
8.designed or for automobiles, their drivers, or their passengers:
The hotel has a motor lobby in its parking garage for picking up anddischarging passengers.
9.causing or producing motion.
10.Physiology. conveying an impulse that results or tends to result inmotion, as a nerve.
11.Psychology, Physiology.. Also, motoric. of, relating to, or involvingmuscular movement:
a motor response; motor images.
verb (used without object)
12.to ride or travel in an automobile; drive:
They motored up the coast.
verb (used with object)
13.Chiefly British. to drive or transport by car:
He motored his son to school.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motor
motor
noun mo·tor \ˈmō-tər\
: a machine that produces motion or power for doing work
Full Definition of MOTOR
1: one that imparts motion; specifically : prime mover
2: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: as
a : a small compact engine
b : internal combustion engine; especially : a gasoline engine
c : a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
3: motor vehicle; especially : automobile

 

[Rickb]

Yah, there's a lot of stupid people that don't look up definitions

There's a lot of smart people that don't look up definitions.

 

[Bert]

I was driving down the motorway the other day, wondering why that truck bumper kept getting larger?
And then it hit me...

 

[Cache Man]

Yah, there's a lot of stupid people that don't look up definitions

It all depends on the new terms used by a group of people. Stupid is as stupid does (Mr. Gump). So by your perspective or labeling ... you are voicing your opinion or view, rather than knowing. This sound stupid* to me .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine

http://engineering.mit.edu/ask/what’s-difference-between-motor-and-engine


*Full Definition of STUPID
1
a : slow of mind : obtuse

b : given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner

c : lacking intelligence or reason : brutish
2
: dulled in feeling or sensation : torpid <still stupid from the sedative>
3
: marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting : senseless <a stupid decision>
4
a : lacking interest or point <a stupid event>

b : vexatious, exasperating <the stupid car won't start>
— stu·pid·ly adverb
— stu·pid·ness noun

 

[Karnaj]

Alright, point proven, I'll crawl back into a hole now.