Yep.
Well, almost all of them. (And there is still a slight difference from standard automatics, which we'll get to.)
We say 'almost' because some car manufacturers do still pack in a standard manual gearstick with their electric cars. That's in order to accommodate drivers who are just so used to a manual petrol or diesel car that an automatic electric car might seem like too much of a jump for them (don't you feel special?).
Sad (or good) news is, that's not going to continue in the future for much longer, for two reasons:
- an electric car simply doesn't need a clutch
And . . .
- all new cars on sale will be electric by 2030, so there aren't going to be many manual drivers around in the future anyway (which is great news if you're a dodgy driver, because automatic cars are virtually impossible to stall)
As you can see, it's safe to say that the future for cars does look electric. If you don't have a clue how they work, it's about time you got started, don't you think? You can make a dent in that by reading through our fantastic EV guide. (And hopefully not an actual dent out on the roads . . .)
Electric cars are similar to automatics in the sense that you don't need a clutch. But in actual fact, there is a slight difference between an electric car and your standard petrol or diesel automatic vehicle.
Allow us to explain . . .
More Than an Automatic
In reality, electric cars go a bit further than automatics, because there's no gearbox involved at all.
Standard automatic cars DO still have gears. Sure, you don't get a gearstick like you do with a manual, but the car's still going through some sort of gear system . . . automatically! The gearbox simply picks the right gear for the car's speed and road conditions without you having to do anything, but there is still a gearbox there. You just don't have to engage with it on any meaningful level.
That's NOT the case with electric cars. There's no sense that the car is ‘working through the gears’ at all. You'll feel more like you're riding a go-kart, as it really is a case of touch and go.
Do Electric Cars Have Gears?
Only one.
There's three reasons for that:
- Unlike standard petrol and diesels with their internal combustion engine, most electric vehicles pack in a lot of RPM (revolutions per minute), giving them a power range far greater than that of a typical vehicle.
- The second reason has to do with the revs. The electric motors in most electric cars can be revved up to 20,000rpm. That's in contrast to around 6,000rpm for petrol and diesel vehicles.
- The third reason has to do with plain old money. The cost to create electric cars is lower when compared with installing a full driveline system, and manufacturers can keep the asking price down to a more affordable level.
Benefits of Electric Cars
Besides their good environmental effects, there are plenty of benefits to be had with an electric car. Let's run down some of the main ones.
- Easy to get used to: They're remarkably similar to standard non-electric automatic cars, so you won't have an absurd learning curve when you step into one for the first time.
- Less that can go wrong: An electric car is a lot less mechanically complex than your conventional automatic or manual car, which means there's also a lot less that can go wrong: there's no clutch to change, no transmission fluid to renew, less wear and tear, etc.
- Convenience: Let's face it, electric cars are a sheer joy to drive. You get seamless acceleration, no engine noise, no gear changes to disrupt your momentum, and no need to do anything except . . . drive! This also means that you can concentrate more on perfecting things like your speed and road position.
Disadvantages of Electric Cars
Honestly, it's difficult to think of that many, and they can hardly outweigh the benefits which we've already mentioned, but we'll give it a go!
- Not the real driving experience: For some, not being able to shift gears and use a clutch can take away from the supposedly 'genuine driving experience' that comes with cars with a manual gearbox.
Yes, gear changing can be tedious sometimes, but it can mean that you have more control over your vehicle at certain speeds, and not being able to have that freedom can potentially lead to a sense of disconnect between the car and the driver in electric cars. This could even get to the point where you're struggling to get to grips with the proper 'feel' of an electric car and prefer having that extra bit of control over your vehicle.
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Fades out at higher speeds: Another gripe for some motorists is that there's not enough ‘oomph’ when you reach higher speeds in electric cars. The power in an electric car can tend to fade out once you reach about 80mph, which isn't generally the case in a conventional car where there's higher gears to support greater torque.
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No revs: The third potential downside is the sound of the revs, or lack of it . . . Whilst electric cars do have higher revs than a standard car, this isn't reflected in the roar of an engine when you accelerate – a noise which some drivers might tend to enjoy! The reason for this is that, before power is sent to the wheels, an electric car doesn’t have to burn any fuel. It’s simply a case of pressing the accelerator, whereby the electric motor rotates and sends power to the wheels with no sound generated.
Our Top Electric Cars
Some of the most popular electric cars on the go here at LeaseLoco at the moment include:
Get them checked out!
Final Thoughts
We've hopefully made it clear to you how an electric vehicle functions and how it differs from a conventional automatic.
We'd definitely recommend electric vehicles (especially with their reduced tax and finance incentives!), all the more so as we seem to have an all-electric future lying ahead of us. But if you still like the feel of a good old-fashioned gearstick and clutch pedal, then that's entirely up to you!