Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
It takes a transmission specifically designed for electric motors. Regular car transmissions cannot handle the instant torque -- ask the good folks who built the Illuminati '7'. Even the differential was destroyed by the electric motor.
And Tesla tried a 2-speed transmission, and then discarded it. Direct drive is better, and more efficient.
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Electric motors have efficiency curves like ICE's do; and if the vehicle has wide enough variations in environmental demands placed on it (low neighborhood speeds AND turnpike speeds; steep hills and flats; empty and heavy loads) an EV with gears has a definite leg up.
As far as "regular" transmissions being too weak, well, that was just a poor choice of transmissions on the part of the builder(s). If people build 1000 hp street machines with transmissions, you can sure build an EV with one.
As far as the Fiero, you can expect 90+% efficiency with a stock a/t and, oh, 94+% efficiency with an m/t. ICE>generator>motor would certainly be far worse.