Do Electric Cars Have Transmissions?

If you’re looking for details about electric car transmissions and how the gears on electric cars work, chances are you’re thinking about making the leap from a gas-powered vehicle to an EV! So, do electric cars have transmissions? While electric cars do have transmissions, they’re different from the transmissions in vehicles with gas-combustion engines.

At Sayer Nissan, we’re excited to educate Pocatello and Ammon car buyers about the future of driving! Find out how Nissan has led the charge—from the first-ever electric vehicle to the 2023 Ariya SUV—and check out the guide below, where we’ve answered frequently asked questions about electric car transmission maintenance and gears on electric cars.

How Many Gears Are on Electric Cars?

The difference between a standard transmission and an electric car transmission comes down to an electric motor’s ability to produce near-instantaneous torque. That’s not something that an internal combustion engine can manage, and it’s the reason that you need to “rev” it to reach peak power.

As for the gears on electric cars, that’s gear—singular! A single-speed electric car transmission allows EVs to use all their power at once, the instant you step on the accelerator. That’s because an EV powertrain works a bit differently:

1. Electricity is sent from the battery to the electric motor when you press the accelerator.
2. The motor spins, spinning the gearbox with it. Technically, the gearbox is the part that does the work of what we’re calling an electric car “transmission.”
3. The EV will move as the motor and gearbox spin. Some electric motors can rotate at speeds of up to 20,000 rpm, while most internal combustion engines only reach 7,000 rpm.
4. An electric vehicle can reverse more quickly, too, because the electric motor just needs to spin backward. In a standard vehicle, you need to shift into a whole new gear for that.

Do You Have To Maintain the Transmission & Gears on Electric Cars?

Because electric cars do have transmissions, you do still need to take your car in for manufacturer-recommended maintenance on a routine basis. However, you’ll be doing this far less frequently for your EV than you did for your gas-powered car—thanks to the simplicity of electric car transmissions and the lack of an engine!

Electric car transmission maintenance is minimal: depending on your model, you may need to change the transmission fluid. Other than that, just be sure to schedule service at the proper intervals for your EV.

Learn More About Electric Car Transmission Maintenance With Sayer Nissan of Idaho Falls!

Questions about electric car transmissions and EV service? We’re happy to tell you everything you’d like to know about EVs so that you can buy with confidence—and enjoy driving fuel-free in Rexburg.