Do electric cars have transmissions? — explained

Not every driver understands how electirc vehicles work yet as EVs are still relatively new in the automotive sector. Many people are used to traditional vehicles and their operations including internal combustion engines and transmissions. As a result, it is common to hear questions like: do electric cars have transmissions?

Electric cars have a transmission system that channels the right amount of power to the wheels. Though different from the conventional combustion vehicle, it does the job with great efficiency.

This article explains how the transmission in electric vehicles works and how to know when it is faulty. We also give practical advice on how to keep the single-speed transmission operating at its optimum best.

What kind of transmissions are in electric cars?

Electric vehicles contain a single-speed transmission system that regulates an electric motor, causing the wheels to turn. The transmission is very different from what the combustion vehicle has both in composition and appearance and is much easier to manage as there are not many gears.

Because of the single-speed transmission, electric cars do not require you to build up torque via revving before using them. The single-speed transmission has carefully calculated gear ratios which increase the efficiency of the electric motor, removing the need to switch gears. They replace the gears you find on a combustion vehicle.

On this note, new drivers do not need to worry much when learning how to drive; driving the electric vehicle is not complicated at all. The single-speed transmission is similar to CVT one, but you won’t have to experience common CVT transmission problems with electric cars.

Are single-speed transmissions better than automatic transmissions?

The significant advantage automatic transmissions have over single-speed transmissions is that they are not limited in speed. Many EV manufacturers place a speed limit on their EVs to ensure a driver does not drain the battery charge faster than expected. A study showed that exceeding the speed range can cause the battery to drain 68% more than when driven within its limit.

The automatic transmission, which runs on gas, does not have this energy limitation and can take on much higher speeds than single-transmissions found on EVs. Therefore, automatic transmissions are better than single-speed transmissions. However, automatic transmissions are not practical for electric vehicles and cannot be used for them.

Is a manual transmission better than a single-speed transmission?

Learning how to drive with a manual transmission is a lot of hard work for new drivers. The simplicity of the single-speed transmission makes it easy and safe to learn and use.

A manual transmission remains excellent for certain activities, especially racing, as they give a more personal touch experience in connecting the driver to the wheels. Single-speed transmissions provide a somewhat similar experience. However, single-speed transmissions are tailored specifically for the electric vehicle and give good results. Though they are less potent than a manual transmission, they still offer excellent results.

Do electric cars have CVT transmissions?

Continuous variable transmission (CVT) changes gear ratios while driving, eliminating the need to change gears yourself. It is also known as shiftless, single-speed, and step-less transmissions.

While it looks safe to assume that the transmissions on electric vehicles are CVT transmissions, the reverse is the case. The reason for this is that the CVT transmission system intends to reduce the effort you put into changing gears on a car with many gears while driving. Since the electric car does not have the same gear system as many vehicles, it does not require CVT to help drivers navigate the road without changing to the right gear at intervals.

However, some manufacturers like Bosch introduced CVT systems specifically made for the electric vehicle into the market. The modified transmission is called CVT4EV and is claimed to increase the efficiency of the standard electric motor by four percent. Their intent for creating the CVT4EV was to expand the operations of the electric vehicle from simple everyday use to a more commercial side.

The multi-stage transmission that the CVT4EV would provide is expected to enable it to work under challenging situations, such as tow trailers taking heavy luggage on sheer roads. The such transmission offers more power, speed, and overall efficiency. Subsequently, you won’t have to experience the issue of speed limit the way most EV owners with the single-speed transmission have noticed in their vehicles.

Do electric cars have a reverse gear?

Electric vehicles do not have reverse gears. To make an EV go backward, select the reverse mode to move backward. Selecting reverse mode will make the electric motor spin in the opposite direction, making it go backward. If the car won’t go in reverse, you’ll at least know it’s not due to a faulty reverse gear on an electric car.

Why do electric cars dont have multi-gear transmissions?

Electric vehicles do not require multi-gear transmissions because of how the electric motor works. The motors produce consistent torque at all RPMs within a range.

Since power output remains constant, there is no need for more gears to control the wheels in different driving inclinations. You do not need to shift gears to go faster or get more power from the EV. Instead, your feet on the pedal are all the nudging the vehicle needs to increase or decrease speed.

However, a few electric cars have extra gear, making their total two. The extra gear provides top speed and better acceleration compared with those with one gear.

How do I maintain the transmission system of my EV?

The combustion vehicle, with its many gears, requires a lot of maintenance to keep it running at an optimal level. The electric car is the complete opposite.

The EV does not need regular transmission servicing as it has a single-speed transmission system with one gear. EV brands like Tesla and Chevy Bolt do not include transmission servicing in their maintenance brochure.

How reliable is the electric vehicle’s transmission system?

The electric vehicle does not have a complex arrangement of many gears which can develop faults ranging from slip-ups to gear grinding. Its mode of operation eliminates most worries the average driver should have for their transmission.

Furthermore, the absence of maintenance instructions for the transmission system in EVs highlights its reliability. It is not prone to spoilage, and even in the case of an accident, it would not cause many issues.

Is the transmission the most important part of the electric vehicle?

The most important part of the electric vehicle is the electric motor. It acts as an administrative unit.

Without it, the wheels would not get the power to operate. Though the transmission is needed in the operation chain, the electric motor is the secret ingredient.

The electric motor is essential because it converts the electrical energy supplied by the battery through the transmission to kinetic energy. It is this kinetic energy that enables the wheels to move.

Furthermore, the electric motor regulates and controls the wheels’ kinetic energy, replacing the many gears that manual and automatic vehicles use.

Can I replace the transmission of my EV with another?

You can easily replace the transmission of your EV with another. As the electric vehicle does not have many moving parts, the few available are easy to spot.

Some drivers change their single-speed transmissions, increasing the number of gears they have to two. The extra gear helps with acceleration, making the EV go faster.

However, more acceleration means more power. If you add a second gear to your transmission to a second gear, be ready to charge more often than usual.

Our take

Electric vehicles have single-speed transmission systems with one gear. The absence of many gears and other engine parts, which the combustion vehicle has in abundance, makes the EV a light vehicle. The less weight impacts the performance of the electric car in positive ways.

Consequently, having only one gear and few parts makes the EV’s transmission system not prone to many faults. There is no need for transmission maintenance, and the system hardly falls out of place. So, unless you are involved in a severe accident, the transmission system on your EV will stay put at all times.

There exists a CVT-based transmission (CVT4EV) developed solely for electric vehicles. Following the success of the electric car, the CVT4EV was formulated to extend the operation of the electric vehicle from simple regular driving to more commercial uses like towing and heavy-load transportation.