Do Electric Cars Have Transmissions?

Electric vehicles are more popular than ever in Bloomington and beyond, and it’s not hard to see why! EVs offer a smooth, efficient ride with performance specs that often well outmatch their gasoline-powered counterparts. Sam Leman Automotive Group offers EVs from a wide variety of popular brands, including Chevy, BMW, Mazda, and Toyota. If you’ve bought your first EV, or if you’re just interested in learning about how they work, you might be wondering:

• What exactly makes an electric car tick?
• Do electric cars require oil?
• Does an electric car have a transmission?
• Why don’t electric cars have transmissions?
• How does an electric motor differ from a gasoline engine?

Does An Electric Car Have A Transmission?

Understandably, many drivers are asking questions about how electric vehicles work. When it comes to how the vehicle is powered, questions about the electric car transmission are often some of the more prominent. “Do electric cars have transmissions?” seems one of the more popular queries, so we’re here to provide you with all the information you need.

You may think that electric cars work much in the same way, and the only difference is plugging your vehicle in rather than needing to stop at the gas station, but it isn’t quite that simple. The team at Sam Leman Automotive Group has more details on how the electric car transmission works in the guide below.

EV Transmission: Gears on Electric Cars

EVs do indeed have transmissions, but they work differently from those found in a standard gas-powered car, mainly because electric motors are capable of producing near-instantaneous torque, while internal combustion engines are not. Peak power happens instantly – no need to “rev” the engine! Does that make you wonder: “Do electric cars have gears?” Then you wouldn’t be the only one.

While gasoline-powered cars can have a 6, 7, 8, or even 10-speed transmission, the instant power of electric cars means it needs only a single-speed transmission. That means that it accelerates instantly, using all the power in the EV as soon as you press down on the pedal. Here’s how it works:

1. You step on the accelerator, which sends electricity from the battery to the electric motor.
2. The motor spins, so the gearbox spins as well – this is the term that refers to the transmission in an EV.
3. As the motor and gearbox start to spin, the EV starts to move. Most gas-powered engines rotate at a rate of around 7,000 rpm while electric motors can achieve up to 20,000 rpm!
4. Putting your EV into reverse causes the electric motor to spin backward, as opposed to a gas-powered vehicle where the transmission has a separate gear that moves in reverse.

EV Transmission Maintenance

One of the benefits of EVs is that they require much less maintenance than their gasoline-powered counterparts, but that doesn’t mean that they require no maintenance at all. It’s important to keep your EV’s transmission in top condition the same way you would any other car.

This involves changing transmission fluid (though not all EVs require this), keeping an eye on how your EV runs during Central IL drives to make sure the transmission is working properly, and sticking to your regularly-scheduled maintenance. If you want to schedule an appointment to get your transmission inspected by our service team, you can do so right on our website!

Find Your Next Electric Vehicle at Sam Leman Automotive Group!

If you’re looking for an EV and want to see how one handles on the Champaign roads, feel free to contact our team anytime! We’ll help you set up a test drive and get you behind the wheel in no time. You can also reach out with any questions, or for more information about all things electric. And if you’re ready to bring a new EV home to your Peoria garage, be sure to check out one of our finance centers for a great resource to get started.