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Sluggish acceleration or below par top speed isn't a perception problem on the Autobahn, it's a real problem. It's completely practical to drive long distances

Sluggish acceleration or below par top speed isn't a perception problem on the Autobahn, it's a real problem. It's completely practical to drive long distances at high speeds because of the well-maintained road surface and well-maintained cars. There are plenty of stretches of the Autobahn with no speed limits. This is a common scenario: you're in the middle lane, and a particularly slow driver is in the middle lane (who should be in the right lane), you attempt to overtake in your underpowered econobox, and out of nowhere a Porsche or high-end BMW is sitting on your tail, and you try to overtake asap to get back into the middle lane to let the other guy pass. This is doubly true if you're going up a slight hill, which exaggerates the lack of torque. Another common scenario is a truck driver, overtaking another truck driver in the middle lane, and you have to move to the left lane to avoid him (truck drivers are supposed to keep to the right lane). Source: someone who's driven plenty of shit, underpowered rentals in Germany, e.g. a Fiat 500X and a Renault Captur. Why anyone, apart from rental companies, would buy these ugly, overweight, underpowered shitboxes is beyond me.

Xylakant 10y ago
lack of torque and sluggish acceleration are an issue that is unrelated to a top speed that is artificially limited for whatever reason. Electric cars tend to have vastly superior torque and acceleration at the same horse power rating. They are perfectly usable on the autobahn. you're attacking a point that I never made.
- slededit 10y ago
  Motors lose torque as speed increases, its a fundamental limitation caused by back-EMF. ICE engines tend to have peak torque at several thousand RPM depending on their design. Therefore while electric motors are much better accelerating from a stop they are not as suited for providing torque at high speeds.

Xylakant 10y ago

lack of torque and sluggish acceleration are an issue that is unrelated to a top speed that is artificially limited for whatever reason. Electric cars tend to have vastly superior torque and acceleration at the same horse power rating. They are perfectly usable on the autobahn. you're attacking a point that I never made.

slededit 10y ago
Motors lose torque as speed increases, its a fundamental limitation caused by back-EMF. ICE engines tend to have peak torque at several thousand RPM depending on their design. Therefore while electric motors are much better accelerating from a stop they are not as suited for providing torque at high speeds.