Are There Gears on Electric Cars?

Electric and hybrid cars are becoming more popular in Bloomfield Hills as gas prices continue to rise—and that means more and more people have questions about their benefits and how they work. For example, do electric vehicles have transmission like conventional gasoline cars? Technically, electric cars do have transmissions, but these transmissions don’t work the way you might think. Let’s talk in more detail about what an electric car transmission is, as well as whether there are multiple gears on electric cars.

What is an Electric Car Transmission?

When most West Bloomfield drivers think of a transmission, they focus on the function of shifting gears. Cars with conventional combustion engines need to shift gears as they speed up and slow down in order to regulate the RPMs. But, the device on an electric vehicle that we refer to as an electric car transmission is technically a single-speed gear reduction unit. That’s because all of the gears in the gearbox are fused together and spin at the same time. Thus, there is no shifting between gears. What does the transmission do, then? It transmits rotating power to the motor, which also happens to be one of the functions of transmissions in conventional vehicles.

Are There Multiple Gears on Electric Cars?

Since an electric vehicle doesn’t need to shift, are there multiple gears on electric cars? Yes, there are multiple gears in EVs, but these gears all spin together and act as one. This enables the car to accelerate instantly, instead of needing to rev up to a specific speed. An electric car can do this because it can operate safely through a wide range of RPMs, sometimes up to 20,000 RPMs. Conventional cars, on the other hand, will redline around 7,000. That’s why transmissions and gear shifting is so important for conventional cars. As the car accelerates from a stop, more torque is needed. As its speed levels out, less torque is needed. This causes a fluctuation in RPMs. If the engine operates at too many RPMs, it can overheat; too few RPMs, and it will stall. A transmission helps to regulate all of that.

Check Out the Hybrid Vehicles at Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills

We’re partial to hybrid cars over fully electric vehicles because they offer the best of both worlds and are incredibly fuel-efficient. Fortunately, we have a wide selection of hybrid vehicles in our showroom. Why not stop by and take a look at them? And, if you’d like to learn more, check out our post on whether electric cars use oil. We’re conveniently located near both Southfield and Birmingham, so drop by or contact us today!