Are all electric cars automatic?
You’re bound to have many questions about electric cars, including whether they're all automatic or not. Let’s take a look.
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So, you’re on the hunt for an electric vehicle. Good on you – you’ll certainly contribute to the well-being of our planet, as EVs emit no greenhouse gases or air pollutants. Zero. Zilch.
Are you searching for smooth looks to blend perfectly with busy city roads? A used electric Hyundai Kona, for example, is a small SUV that’s great for family rides and boasts a generous 332-litre boot.
Or are you after an EV with long range to keep you exploring the glorious British countryside? A used Tesla Model S might be right up your street – it will keep you on the road for more than 300 miles before needing a recharge.
Whatever your needs, there are plenty of EV brands and models to choose from. But while they differ in their design and infotainment offerings, most electric cars function in a very similar way.
Are electric cars automatic or manual?
All electric cars are automatic. This is because electric cars tend to use a single gear. This means there’s no need to change gears manually or with an automatic transmission.
An electric vehicle’s single gear is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU has sensors that keep track of the car’s speed and how much power is being applied to the wheels. It will then adjust the gear ratio accordingly.
There are a few electric models out there that come with more than one gear, such as the Porsche Taycan.
The Taycan has a two-speed transmission, but the way you drive it doesn’t change.
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Why do EVs only have one gear?
In short, this is due to how electric motors work.
The more electricity goes through an electric motor, the faster it will turn. The faster it turns, the quicker the vehicle will go.
The electric motor is also directly connected to the wheels, meaning there’s no need for transmission. This is why most EVs only have one gear, as it can be optimised for better performance and efficiency.
Some EVs, such as the KIA EV6, are equipped with two motors – one for the front axle and one for the rear, which gives you all-wheel drive.
Petrol or diesel cars have an internal combustion engine (ICE) that sends power through a transmission. To do so, it needs a series of gears to match the engine’s speed to that of its wheels.
Are there other benefits to having one gear?
As well as offering better performance drive with confidence, having one gear comes with several advantages.
For example, a car with one gear is easier to maintain. Why? Because brake wear tends to be lower, as electric vehicles also use regeneration to slow the car. This means that your brakes won’t need fixing as frequently and your trips to the garage will be less costly.
You’ll also notice a difference in how nippy they are compared to the majority of ICE cars. EVs are often much quicker from 0-62mph as you don’t need to change gear or build revs.
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Can you get a manual electric car?
As things stand, you can’t, and there aren’t likely to be any in the near future.
Even plug-in hybrid models, which have an electric and fuel-powered (petrol or diesel) engine, have automatic gearboxes. Some, like Citroen’s DS7 e-tense, have paddle shifts on the steering wheel – much like you’d get in a sports car – with which you can shuffle through the gears without taking your hands off the wheel.
But if you enjoy the basic act of driving and have a soft spot for manual gearboxes, then listen up. Toyota has submitted a patent for an EV ‘simulated manual gearbox’, so who knows what will happen in a few years’ time?