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

well, it’s not *technically* instant. But electricity moves very close to the speed of light, and so when you touch the pedal, the signals move super fast, and the force is applied at a speed that seems instant (because you can’t actually perceive a delay).
ICE delay can be perceived, because gas/diesel needs to enter the engine, then get compressed, and then the explosion needs to send the energy along that turns the wheels. This takes significantly longer (even though it’s still pretty fast).