Torque is a measure of the twisting force of an object. It’s measured in pounds-feet (lbf*ft), representing how much force can be generated at a given distance. The word “torque” comes from the Latin verb torquere, which means “to twist.” You might have heard people refer to a vehicle’s “torque rating,” but what does that mean?
Imagine holding onto a long rope, pulling inward on one end with both hands as hard as possible. The more force you apply, the greater your torque will be. Therefore, the more resistance there would be against letting go of that rope if someone else were pulling on it from behind you (or trying to push into your chest).
Torque in EVs
Electric vehicles have a lot of torque. Their motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines, which generate less torque and require a transmission to increase it. Electric vehicles’ motors are also connected directly to the wheels without gearing or other components that might slow them down. It means they accelerate faster and have better fuel economy than their gas-powered counterparts.
If you’ve ever driven an electric vehicle, you’ve probably noticed that it’s fast. Most EV drivers are pleasantly surprised by their vehicles’ immediate acceleration and torque, but why exactly is this? Here’s a brief explanation of how electric vehicles produce such high amounts of torque and what that means for the driving experience.
Electric Vehicle Torque is Instantaneous
Compared to internal combustion engines, electric vehicles can accelerate faster than their counterparts. Electric motors have no gear ratios and provide torque instantly. As a result, they can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in seconds. Internal combustion engines need time for the gears to engage and for the engine speed to reach its maximum value before the vehicle can start moving forward.
Electric vehicles also produce more torque than internal combustion engines at all speeds because they don’t need the energy to idle or move slowly.
Electric Vehicles have a Lot of Torque
One of the most essential things about electric vehicles is that they have a lot of torque.
The reason for this is simple: the motors in an electric vehicle are more efficient than those found in combustion engine vehicles. These motors can generate much more power than engines, which means that they can produce more torque at any given RPM.
For example, if you’re driving a gas-powered vehicle and hit your brakes hard enough to need all four wheels locked up, you’ll notice how much force it takes before you feel like slowing down. This force comes from all four tires applying maximum pressure against contact with the asphalt surface beneath them and that’s only when the engine isn’t working at total capacity.
Electric Vehicles Start and Stop Faster
In the case of electric vehicles, an electric engine can produce much more torque than a gasoline engine. This is because the torque produced by an electric motor is dependent on the current flow through it. The higher the current, the more significant amount of torque produced. However, this doesn’t mean that gasoline engines can’t have very high amounts of torque.
The advantages of this instant-torque phenomenon are numerous: Electric vehicles accelerate faster and change direction more quickly than their internal combustion counterparts because they have so much more power available immediately when you put your foot on the accelerator pedal or turn a corner.
Electric Vehicle Motors Allow for Regenerative Braking, Which Can Improve Fuel Economy
In an electric vehicle, the motor can be used to slow the vehicle. When the driver presses on the brake pedal, a valve forces oil from one side of the engine to another. This stops electricity from flowing through it and turns it into a generator. The spinning generator creates energy stored in a battery pack or opposing current generating device so that it can be reused later as electricity or to power accessories such as lights and stereos.
This form of braking allows for significantly improved fuel economy because it reduces drag while increasing strength in certain conditions, like when you need extra power after accelerating down an incline or want maximum stopping ability during emergency situations like rear-ending someone at a stop light.
Instant Torque For Faster Acceleration
Torque is a force that causes an object to rotate. It’s measured in Newton meters (Nm), which is the product of force and distance. For example, if you have a 100 kg weight suspended from a rope and pull on the string with a force of 1 N, your torque will be 100 kg × 1 N = 100 Nm.
Torque can describe your ability to rotate an object. If you want to move something around, say by pushing it up against another thing with some force, then you need to exert enough torque so that your desired motion occurs.
Electric Vehicle Motors can be Almost Anywhere
You may be thinking, “Ok, but what about torque?” The answer is simple: electric motors can be placed anywhere in a vehicle. If you’ve ever driven an electric vehicle, you know they have a ton of torque because the motor is located right where it needs to be at each wheel.
In other words, an electric motor with no transmission gearbox can deliver all its power directly to the wheels as required. That’s why they’re much faster than traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs).
Torque At The Wheel is More Than Combustion Engines
Tesla drivers should know that torque at the wheel is more important than the engines. The engine is only one part of a drivetrain, including the transmission and differential. The whole system transfers power from your engine to your wheels, and this combination of components determines how much force you can feel when trying to accelerate!
Does Tesla Have So Much Torque?
Tesla has more Torque than Mustang
Tesla is known for pushing the envelope with their electric vehicles, but a new aspect of their technology impressed EV users even more than all their other innovations: torque.
In a nutshell, torque is how fast an engine can turn and how much force it can apply to its wheels. And while most people think of horsepower when they hear “torque” (or “twist”), the two are not synonymous. In fact, horsepower measures torque per minute while torque measures force per distance traveled. So, what does this mean in practice?
The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a maximum torque rating of 530 lbf*ft (730 N*m). It means that on one long road trip around the country, you could drive straight through without having to stop at any gas stations at all because Tesla Roadsters have so much (7,375 lbf*).
The Tesla Roadster’s torque is rated at 10,000 N*m, which is 7,375 lbf*ft. A 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a torque rating of 530 lbf*ft. The Tesla Roadster has about 20 times more torque than the Mustang. For more and authentic info regarding Electric Vehicles, Batteries and Charging stations, you may visit vehicles ambassador.
