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Down Shifting Is Dead. Long Live The New Fahrvergnugen!
Our new car is an electric vehicle (EV) … and it has NO gears. Its a computer on wheels but also a ridiculously simple one speed ride. Does this mean fahrvergnugen is over?
EVs make no powerful engine roar and thankfully no environment killing exhaust either. However, they do not have or need a gear shift and accelerate powerfully and instantly.
Conventional cars need a gearbox with multiple gears because piston driven internal combustion engines are only capable of generating useable torque and power within a narrow band of engine speed. Varying gear ratios help conventional engines keep within that ‘power band’ at different road speeds. That’s why a petrol car will easily accelerate to 20mph in first gear, but won’t go much faster without reaching the engine’s rev limit, or ‘redline’. By the same logic, you’ll struggle to pull away from a set of lights in sixth gear, as this ratio is designed for cruising at faster speeds.
However EVs have no need for multispeed transmission. They can deliver maximum torque almost instantly from zero revs. Electric cars can reach top speed in a single gear, with little compromise in low-speed driving or usability.
Read all about the advantages and disadvantages of driving automatic vs stick shift cars here. While some EV makers like…
