Do EVs Have Transmissions Like Conventional Cars Do?

Electric vehicles (“EVs”) have one major difference compared to conventional gas-powered cars — they are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rather than an internal combustion engine (“ICE”). Eliminating combustion engines and the fossil fuels used to power them makes EVs significantly cleaner than ICE cars. Now that electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, people are asking questions about EV technology. One common question about zero-emission cars is whether or not they have transmissions like conventional vehicles do.

In traditional cars, the transmission’s function is to transfer power from the engine to the driveshaft and the wheels depending on whether the vehicle is a rear-wheel, front-wheel, or all-wheel drive. On the other hand, electric vehicles generally don’t have the multispeed transmissions you would see in an ordinary car.

Since an electric motor produces 100% of its power as soon as it starts turning, most EVs have only one speed. Unlike gas-powered engines, they don’t need to be steadily revved up for them to unleash their full power. This gives EVs the instant torque and quick acceleration electric cars are famous for.

Furthermore, electric motors can achieve high revs of up to 20,000 revolutions per minute (“rpms”) while engines usually max out at around 6,000 to 7,000 rpms. This means that electric motors can produce a lot more power than engines, and they can do so as soon as they start revving. You would be hard pressed to find an electric vehicle equipped with a multispeed transmission as they simply don’t need them. In contrast, gas- and diesel-powered cars have a lower power capacity, and they need more than one speed to operate at low and high speeds efficiently.

That said, EVs still have a kind of transmission. Even though they run at a single speed, electric motors need gears to transfer power to the vehicle’s wheels. They may also feature a device designed to lock the gears when the vehicle is in park mode. If you are willing to spend more, you could find an EV that uses a multispeed transmission. Early versions of the original Tesla Roadster featured a two-speed transmission, but it was subsequently replaced with a one-speed unit. Depending on the mileage, condition and battery life, you could potentially buy a Roadster for around $50,000 to $150,000.

Another electric car featuring a two-speed transmission is the current Porsche Taycan. The multi-speed transmission powers the rear wheels while the front wheels rely on a single-speed transmission. According to Porsche, the rear-mounted, two-speed transmission gives vehicles unprecedented efficiency and range at high speeds.

Needless to say, we are likely to see a lot more modifications to various EV systems as more players such as ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. Ltd. (NASDAQ: SOLO) gain market traction and increase their EV offerings targeting different market segments.

About Green Car Stocks

Green Car Stocks (GCS) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on electric vehicles (EV), as well as other emerging market opportunities in the green sector. The company provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, GCS is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, GCS brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. GCS is where news, content and information converge.

To receive SMS text alerts from Green Car Stocks, text “Green” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information, please visit https://www.greencarstocks.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the Green Car Stocks website applicable to all content provided by GCS, wherever published or re-published: https://www.greencarstocks.com/Disclaimer

Green Car Stocks
Los Angeles, CA
www.greencarstocks.com
415.949.5050 Office
[email protected]

Green Car Stocks is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.

Archives

Select A Month

Contact us: (310) 299-1717