Why do electric cars accelerate faster than most gas-powered cars, even though they have less horsepower?

Question

Why do electric cars accelerate faster than most gas-powered cars, even though they have less horsepower?

In: Technology

Answer 1

Imagine you are spinning a really heavy wheel but you can only push it once every full rotation. 

 At low speeds you can push it once a minute. As it gets up to speed you have the opportunity to push it more and more often. So 2 times a minute, then 3 times then higher and higher until you physically can’t push any harder past, say, 10 rotations a minute because your arms are weak.

 An engine works the same way. At low speeds you’re not able to use full power because the piston needs to return to its original position before it can push again.

An EV can use full power from the very beginning because electric motors use magnets which can exert power at every point in the rotation.