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> Why add a bunch of unnecessary complexity? 1. By adding an additional lower gear to an electric truck/4x4, it could provide even more torque at low gears to

> Why add a bunch of unnecessary complexity? 1. By adding an additional lower gear to an electric truck/4x4, it could provide even more torque at low gears to allow it to carry more load and go up steeper inclines. 2. By adding an additional higher gear to a car, it could go faster and accelerate faster at the top RPM end(s). For example, see how the acceleration drops quickly. That wouldn't happen if you were to keep switching to higher gears: http://static4.consumerreportscdn.org/content/dam/cro/news_articles/cars/CRO_Cars_Hellcat_Chart_06-15.png http://static4.consumerreportscdn.org/content/dam/cro/news_a... The reason they didn't do this in the Tesla was a technical problem, but that could be remedied: https://forums.tesla.com/forum/forums/adding-second-gear-speed-above-100mph https://forums.tesla.com/forum/forums/adding-second-gear-spe... "The roadster originally was developed using a two speed gear box. However, they had problems getting it to handle the massive instantaneous torque that the motor could produce, so they went for a single speed."

JshWright 10y ago
Like I said... It's a reasonable thing to do for niche vehicles. For a mass-market vehicle it is completely unnecessary, and only adds complexity and cost.
- kleigenfreude 10y ago
  > only adds ... cost. Note: while I think this is probably true for electric vehicles that don't offer this option, this is inaccurate for gas vehicles. Manual transmission cars are still cheaper currently and are sold by major manufacturers. Major manufacturers will typically pass on additional cost to the consumer.
  - JshWright 10y ago
    Manual transmissions are not cheaper than a single fixed ratio power-train. The comparison is not between an automatic and a manual transmission. It is between _any_ transmission and "no" transmission.
    - kleigenfreude 10y ago
      When I was comparing cars in the last year, the manual transmission variant of a car was cheaper than the automatic variant. Why would they continue to make a car that cost more to build and charge less? I think maybe your experience and knowledge in this is specific, but you're generalizing? Otherwise, large automakers are doing non-sensical things...
      - JshWright 10y ago
        This is a conversation about _electric_ cars... I don't understand why you keep comparing automatic and manual transmissions... Obviously the manual is cheaper in that comparison. That is completely irrelevant when talking about electric cars. The properties of an electric motor make a multi-speed transmission of any sort unnecessary for 'normal' use (for a _very_ wide range of 'normal'). Yes, a manual transmission is cheaper than an automatic, but both are more expensive than "no" transmission[1], which is why electric car manufacturers aren't bothering with them for mass-market vehicles. [1] Obviously there is still gearing transmitting power to the wheels from the motor, but in the case of electric cars, it can be a single fixed-ratio set of gears, rather than multiple sets of gears and one or more clutches...

JshWright 10y ago

Like I said... It's a reasonable thing to do for niche vehicles. For a mass-market vehicle it is completely unnecessary, and only adds complexity and cost.

kleigenfreude 10y ago
> only adds ... cost. Note: while I think this is probably true for electric vehicles that don't offer this option, this is inaccurate for gas vehicles. Manual transmission cars are still cheaper currently and are sold by major manufacturers. Major manufacturers will typically pass on additional cost to the consumer.
- JshWright 10y ago
  Manual transmissions are not cheaper than a single fixed ratio power-train. The comparison is not between an automatic and a manual transmission. It is between _any_ transmission and "no" transmission.
  - kleigenfreude 10y ago
    When I was comparing cars in the last year, the manual transmission variant of a car was cheaper than the automatic variant. Why would they continue to make a car that cost more to build and charge less? I think maybe your experience and knowledge in this is specific, but you're generalizing? Otherwise, large automakers are doing non-sensical things...
    - JshWright 10y ago
      This is a conversation about _electric_ cars... I don't understand why you keep comparing automatic and manual transmissions... Obviously the manual is cheaper in that comparison. That is completely irrelevant when talking about electric cars. The properties of an electric motor make a multi-speed transmission of any sort unnecessary for 'normal' use (for a _very_ wide range of 'normal'). Yes, a manual transmission is cheaper than an automatic, but both are more expensive than "no" transmission[1], which is why electric car manufacturers aren't bothering with them for mass-market vehicles. [1] Obviously there is still gearing transmitting power to the wheels from the motor, but in the case of electric cars, it can be a single fixed-ratio set of gears, rather than multiple sets of gears and one or more clutches...