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Saw an ELI5 thread asking about gear ratios in EVs and it got me thinking. Everyone understands how crucial they are in internal combustion engines (ICE) to keep the engine in its optimal RPM range, but it's less obvious for EVs which have a much wider power band.
The simplest explanation I saw was that gear ratios in EVs still matter for torque multiplication. Electric motors produce peak torque at 0 RPM, but that torque might not be enough for swift acceleration or for climbing hills. A higher gear ratio (numerically lower) multiplies the torque available at the wheels, allowing for faster off-the-line performance. Conversely, a lower gear ratio (numerically higher) can increase top speed, but at the cost of initial acceleration.
It's also captivating to consider why most EVs only have a single-speed transmission. It seems like having multiple gears could offer even more adaptability and efficiency, but the added complexity, weight, and cost likely outweigh the benefits for most applications. I wonder if we'll see multi-speed EV transmissions become more common in higher-performance or heavy-duty electric vehicles eventually.What does everyone else think?