EVs and In Gear Acceleration vs ICE
Discussion
The old go to measure of an internal combustion engines flexibility used to be timed between 50 to 75 or 50 to 70mph in 5th or 6th gear.
With the new EVs now does their instant electric shove only mean they are quick from a standing start or are they just as instant in the mid ranges like the old 50-70?
Its not a subject I think Ive seen in any reviews or the comparisons to ICE stablemates. Also many seem to be limited to 112mph but I guess thats due to what is essentially only having a single gear..
With the new EVs now does their instant electric shove only mean they are quick from a standing start or are they just as instant in the mid ranges like the old 50-70?
Its not a subject I think Ive seen in any reviews or the comparisons to ICE stablemates. Also many seem to be limited to 112mph but I guess thats due to what is essentially only having a single gear..
There are some fantastically knowledge people on this forum who will be better able to explain the characteristics of torque from various kinds of electric motors, but for your second point, I believe you are right in that the traditional single speed gearbox of most EVs is a limiting constraint on top speed
My BMW i3 is limited to 93mph because the motor itself is limited to 11,000rpm. Beyond that power consumption was too severe to bother with. The Porsche Taycan has a two speed gearbox which allows it to achieve a higher than average top speed for an EV, I believe second gear kicks in above 80mph (and I think 1st gear is only used when launching?). The Tesla Model S Plaid has bits of its motor wrapped in carbon fibre to allow the motor to spin faster (and therefore eschew a gearbox) to achieve its top speed
My BMW i3 is limited to 93mph because the motor itself is limited to 11,000rpm. Beyond that power consumption was too severe to bother with. The Porsche Taycan has a two speed gearbox which allows it to achieve a higher than average top speed for an EV, I believe second gear kicks in above 80mph (and I think 1st gear is only used when launching?). The Tesla Model S Plaid has bits of its motor wrapped in carbon fibre to allow the motor to spin faster (and therefore eschew a gearbox) to achieve its top speed
ToothbrushMan said:
With the new EVs now does their instant electric shove only mean they are quick from a standing start or are they just as instant in the mid ranges like the old 50-70?
The problem with 50-70 tests is that it doesn't tell the whole story about the difference between ICEs and EVs. The sensation of 'quick' is firstly jerk (rate of change of acceleration/head toss), then the acceleration itself (feeling of being pressed), and finally the perceived speed.
EVs are theoretically capable of more jerk due to their low inertia.
Therefore, EVs may feel faster and more responsive even if they post a near-identical 50-70 time.
ToothbrushMan said:
The old go to measure of an internal combustion engines flexibility used to be timed between 50 to 75 or 50 to 70mph in 5th or 6th gear.
With the new EVs now does their instant electric shove only mean they are quick from a standing start or are they just as instant in the mid ranges like the old 50-70?
Its not a subject I think Ive seen in any reviews or the comparisons to ICE stablemates. Also many seem to be limited to 112mph but I guess thats due to what is essentially only having a single gear..
Tesla compared to Bugatti Veyron With the new EVs now does their instant electric shove only mean they are quick from a standing start or are they just as instant in the mid ranges like the old 50-70?
Its not a subject I think Ive seen in any reviews or the comparisons to ICE stablemates. Also many seem to be limited to 112mph but I guess thats due to what is essentially only having a single gear..
Mad Maximus said:
Ev’s still outperform ice into triple figures but then tail off and ice wins top speed.
Although top trump stats aren’t my thing, I’m not sure that’s the case. A Taycan 4S has over 110bhp more power than my RS4 (similar BHP per tonne) and they are pretty much identical on paper. Compare it to an M3, which still has less power, and the BMW will walk away. I’m sure the Taycan will feel faster due to the instantaneous torque and power available. For day to day driving EV power is more accessible, but where’s the fun in that - we need downshifts, bouncing off the rev limiter and noise
SWoll said:
Jump to 2:50 to see the difference at 50mph. Runs out of steam at 100mph+ but in real world scenarios (especially in the UK) not much can keep up IME.
Even my little i3s can accelerate at fair old pace within the legal limits. It's all so effortless and without drama, which is great.
My BMW I3S vs my Cerbera 4.5, soundtrack is of course Cerbera. Surprisingly close.
https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
GT6k said:
My BMW I3S vs my Cerbera 4.5, soundtrack is of course Cerbera. Surprisingly close.
https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
I had a Cerbera 4.5 in 98. Went like a rocket, sadly just not very often. The most unreliable car i ever owned. The dealer reckoned they could eventually fix all the badly engineered/ assembled bits. I refused. https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
plfrench said:
Terminator X said:
EV is the modern diesel, instant torque. For the lazy drivers 
TX.
Or for those drivers who appreciate the removal of the compromises of multi-ratio gearboxes and limited powerbands of ICE, along with truly instantaneous 'throttle' response TX.
Maybe some find all that instant performance just a bit too intimidating.
Nomme de Plum said:
GT6k said:
My BMW I3S vs my Cerbera 4.5, soundtrack is of course Cerbera. Surprisingly close.
https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
I had a Cerbera 4.5 in 98. Went like a rocket, sadly just not very often. The most unreliable car i ever owned. The dealer reckoned they could eventually fix all the badly engineered/ assembled bits. I refused. https://youtu.be/XkU4eRn2d-s?si=TF1Q1cMhRRb3Vql7
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