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

Torque is a function of rotation around an axis.

An ICE accomplishes it’s torque by spinning up to speed and using the rotational mass of the parts to give it it’s torque… Basically it’s ability to keep things turning. These peak numbers are up in the 1000’s of rpm.

An electric motor starts out with zero rotational mass (because it is not turning) and acts internally upon itself to give it’s torque as it begins to turn
…so it’s “instant” torque from zero.

Quite often electric motors actually lose torque as the rpm increases, but this is becoming less of an issue as motor controller tech changes.