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Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by zaarn on Thursday August 25, 2022 @03:13AM (#32590580)
I've given up with manual, as a technology, since I've used an EV that didn't have any switching transmission. Just fixed gear ratio. The feeling is better than manual. You always have full power available. There is no RPM regime where an EV won't be able to apply maximum torque. Manual can't beat that feeling.

Though I will also say that a modern automatic doesn't need 500 meters. It works almost as well as manual. If you floor the pedal if shifts to apply more torque.

Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by sokoloff on Thursday August 25, 2022 @07:31AM (#32592281)
> There is no RPM regime where an EV won't be able to apply maximum torque.

Sure there is! Electrics have maximum torque at zero RPM. As RPM increases, their torque drops off. Some cars will have a torque limit that provides for constant torque (less than the motor would be capable of), but as RPM continued to increase, eventually the torque falls off.

> You always have full power available.

This is also incorrect, but less so than the max torque claim, as power is torque times RPM (times a constant), so as RPM rises and torque falls, power is closer to constant than torque is.

Here’s an article covering a dyno test of a plaid Model S: https://electrek.co/2017/02/21/tesla-model-s-p100d-ludicrous...

Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by Sohcahtoa82 on Thursday August 25, 2022 @01:44PM (#32597264)
> > You always have full power available.

> This is also incorrect, but less so than the max torque claim

Eh, I think you're being a bit pedantic here.

The point was that in an EV, you always have the maximum torque for a given speed available. Whereas in an ICE, you'll have to downshift, which in some automatic cars can take a second or two. You can suddenly floor the gas and go nowhere, whereas an EV takes off immediately. Even a 600 horsepower hypercar will be a little sluggish if you floor it at 55 mph in the top gear.

Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by zaarn on Thursday August 25, 2022 @07:35AM (#32592305)
Most EV motors are fairly flat, but as you mention, they use software to further flatten in. Reality is; the torque curve is nearly perfectly flat.
Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by sokoloff on Thursday August 25, 2022 @07:41AM (#32592358)
That’s contrary to electric motor theory and to the dyno test that I linked above. The power curve is much flatter than the torque curve.

https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/02/29007...

Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by zaarn on Friday August 26, 2022 @04:24AM (#32604650)
Not sure what your point there is? EVs are still fixed-gear ratio and provide maximum torque over the entire range. The graph you linked just shows that?
Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by superhuzza on Thursday August 25, 2022 @07:27AM (#32592251)
He meant 500 milliseconds not 500 metres. Not having any pickup over 500 metres would be insane.
Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by zaarn on Thursday August 25, 2022 @07:35AM (#32592306)
I am sure that doesn't change the argument at all, most electric motors don't need 500ms to apply force.
Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by calvinmorrison on Thursday August 25, 2022 @08:13AM (#32592637)
Surely they don't. But that's not what it's about. It's about the fact that I can't reliably gauge how this car works or have good feedback in comparison to my manual.
Re:The end of the manual transmission is near? by zaarn on Thursday August 25, 2022 @12:03PM (#32595662)
I would argue you have better feedback and can understand better how it works than manual. There is a fixed ratio gear connecting motor and wheels. Simpler than clutch and transmission by miles. The motor works with electricity and a motor controller, all software. It has reliable performance characteristics.