Fast read
Electric cars challenge the traditional understanding of gears in cars, as most have only a single-speed transmission.
Unlike internal combustion engines that require gears to control power and torque, electric motors can deliver power efficiently across a range of speeds, eliminating the need for multiple gears.
This makes driving smoother and more effortless. However, there are exceptions, such as the Porsche Taycan, which has a two-speed gearbox for high performance.
Despite these unique instances, the lack of gears or clutches in most electric cars contributes to their appeal, simplicity, and efficiency, marking a shift in comfort and driving style.
Do Electric Cars need gears to drive?
As the world becomes more environmentally friendly, the popularity and demand for electric cars have also increased. A common question for those new to electric cars is whether electric cars have gears. Now, I don’t mean the gears you’ll find in a wristwatch or those you accidentally crunch trying to use a manual gearbox and clutch after years of driving an automatic car.
The younger generation, which has only ever known the automatic drive train in a petrol vehicle, trying to explain how to drive a manual gearbox is like trying to explain the Theory of Relativity to someone interested in the recipe of German Strudel Cake.
The basics of gears in traditional vehicles
In a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), the gears are used to control the power and torque of an engine, which in turn affects the vehicle’s speed. The gearbox helps to keep a car operating at the ideal speed, whether in traffic or on the highway. Most modern petrol cars have an automatic gearbox and some performance models or vintage cars need the driver to manually shift the gears, by using the clutch.
Why do electric cars typically have one gear?
The majority of electric cars have a single-speed transmission. The reason is that electric motors can deliver power efficiently over a wide driving range of speeds. In layman’s terms, it’s like having a universal TV remote that can control everything without needing a manual, trying every remote button or calling your tech-savvy daughter for help.
Imagine if Usain Bolt, the famous world record holder in all his glory, ran like an internal combustion engine. He’d start with a stumble, speed up gradually, and then probably need a pit stop for a quick oil change before reaching the finish line. Of course, he might still need to recharge his battery, but that’s another issue.
In an electric car, the motor directly connects to the wheels, reducing and minimizing the need for a transmission, also known as the ‘gearbox’. Unlike an internal combustion engine which reaches its peak torque at a higher speed, an electric car has maximum torque at a standstill, meaning it has instantaneous power without gears.
The lack of a clutch in electric cars
In a traditional internal combustion engine, a clutch is required to engage and disengage the transmission from the engine allowing it to navigate through its gears. In an electric car, the electric motor does not need to idle, and no gears need to be changed. Therefore there is no need for a clutch. This allows for a much smoother, more effortless way to drive than the older single-clutch gearboxes.
Two-speed gearboxes in electric cars
Some electric cars have a two-speed transmission to cater to high-performance demands. But then again, engineers love exceptions, don’t they If something works perfectly, engineers can’t help themselves but ask, “Can we make it more complicated?”
An example of a two-speed gearbox is the Porsche Taycan, and we are sure a German engineer was responsible for this. This Porsche model has a dual gearbox to improve efficiency at higher speeds. The two-speed gearbox guarantees faster acceleration and allows the vehicle to reach a higher top speed. The process in which this happens is highly simultaneous and requires no additional effort on the driver’s behalf.
Manual vs automatic electric cars
The single drivetrain in an EV enables the driver to control drive, reverse, and neutral modes. Therefore, the driver must select the desired direction, and the vehicle will handle the rest. A few mock-up designs have been proposed of a simulated manual drive train for an electric car. However, this would mimic the feeling of a manual gearbox and would not affect the vehicle’s performance.
So, the next time someone asks you about gears in an electric car, you can smile knowingly and say, “Well, it’s not as simple as shifting into first.” It means that the future of driving is looking slick and smooth.
No more sudden stop at the red light, when you try and take off in third gear. Electric cars with their simple or non-existent gear systems are leading the way in comfort and driving style.
Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, they’ll add a new twist, like gears in an electric car, to keep you on your toes
Conclusion
In conclusion, electric cars typically have one gear, but there are a small number of models that include two. This does not affect driving functionality like it would in a traditional vehicle with a gasoline engine. Driving an electric car is simpler and more efficient because of the instant power and lack of gears or a clutch.
