How do electric cars produce instant torque while ICE do not?

Question

I’ve heard that fact, and I know ICE cars have a torque curve but I don’t understand why it is that an electric motor produces torque instantly.

In: 1

Answer 1

A gas engine has gears that sync to the engine at a specific ratio.

So for example – if there’s a 1:1 ratio:
* The engine turns one time – the wheels on the car turns one time
* The engine turns 50 times – the wheels turn 50 times
* The engine turns 0 times – the wheels turn 0 times

But if the engine turns zero times – that means it’s off.

ICE cars have torque converters or clutches that wastes the engine’s force. This means the engine can keep turning so it doesn’t go off, while the car remains stopped.

If you drive a stick shift/manual car and don’t press the clutch as you slow down, the car can turn off when you stop. So you have to start the car and press the clutch pedal to deliberately waste the engine’s energy.