EV Torque talk

[Sebbak]

So I wasn't sure about posting this at the risk of sounding overly dramatic (not my intention), but how did new 'performance' EV drivers find getting used to the torque in their new car?

I don't mean just the fact it's instant; that's fine and perfectly manageable driving normally, more so that it feels like my organs are being re-arranged if I boot it; do you get used to it pretty quickly?

I'm asking as I've recently moved from a Fiesta ST (great little car) to an Ioniq 5N (bit of a monster in comparison) and as a result I'm not used to the high levels of insta-torque available, so a few nights ago I had a clear dry road for the first time getting the car and at a set of lights I thought I'd put my foot down a bit when they went green. Nothing mad, just 0-50 (the limit) as quick as it would get there; it felt like all the blood in my face went to the back of my head

It can obviously do quite a bit more as it was still in normal mode and had a very cold battery, but it was enough to be distracting, which is my primary concern really. Coming from the Fiesta, I'm obviously not used to driving anything of higher performance, so the feeling is quite dramatic. I would assume if I was coming from driving a significantly more powerful ICE car, then I'd be more used to the feeling, but just curious how long it took people to get used to the physical experience when you really push on a bit? (Appreciating everyone is different etc etc).

Obviously it's not something I do all the time (booting it), but I suppose the only way to get used to it is to experience it more. As I say, my main concern is the distraction factor, rather than the physical feeling itself.

Side note: I'm obviously not built to be a racing driver/pilot of any kind

[Nomme de Plum]

You will soon adapt and if you wish to take the edge off a bit put the car in one of the Eco modes which will blunt throttle response slightly.

At the end of the day it just a brain, foot connection.

[ChocolateFrog]

You get used to it.

It's only when you have passengers that don't normally travel with you that it reminds you that it feels a bit quick.

I find the traction control is so good in general that you can take liberties if you want.

[LordGrover]

My first EV was a BMW i3, which on paper was/is slower than the 981 Boxster it replaced, but it felt faster, especially overtaking speeds 30-50 and similar.
It's the delivery, quietness and lack of drama that seems to exaggerate the feeling.
I now have an i4 edrive40 which is a little faster than the i3, but feels a lot quicker for some reason - still slower than my old Boxster though (which was not an S).

[gmaz]

I rarely get to use it as it only takes 2 seconds to get from normal speeds to quite illegal speeds. It is good fun though (Tesla 3 LR with accell boost)

[Sebbak]

Cheers all, glad it's not just me then. As I say, I guess doing it more often will get me used to it, but obviously need to be sensible/careful as it's so easy to just blast past any speed limits in place.

Will also remember to brace myself a bit

[Pistonheadsdicoverer]

Cracks me to think that an OAP moving to EV and pushing the pedal a wee bit to strongly might get quite a shock!

[SDK]

You quickly get used to it, then you will want more !

[TheDeuce]

Pistonheadsdicoverer said:

Cracks me to think that an OAP moving to EV and pushing the pedal a wee bit to strongly might get quite a shock!

Indeed! The sort that like to rev their Jazz to 3 trillion RPM to back into a parking space might need to re-visit their pedal control...


I've said for years now, that since EV's are entirely controllable in software it would be fairly simple to add a 'befuddled old sod' mode, locking the car into max 1m/s movement in reverse, a loud beep when moving between fwd/rev and a continuous beep while in reverse... I'm sure there's a load of other helpful things that could be added to such a mode to help them not deploy 900nm of torque by mistake.

I actually caught myself out the other day. I had popped the car into sport mode at a busy roundabout to neatly pull in to the next small gap in traffic on the roundabout. I saw the gap, tapped the throttle and then immediately questioned whether a car was turning off or carrying on around, so I hit the brakes, then it became obvious the car was turning off so back on the throttle. This all happened in less than a second, so it probably looked a little odd from the outside... from the inside I can tell you that mashing the throttle on a powerful EV a split second after hitting the brakes, is extremely uncomfortable!

[timberman]

There was a bit of a gap, but I went from a Porsche 911 to a BMW I4 m50


on paper the acceleration is quite similar, but the 1st time I really floored it in the I4 from a standing start I felt physically sick,

I've covered nearly 18000 miles now, and although I still get pushed back into my seat under hard acceleration I'm used to it now to the point where it feels pretty normal,

the problem now is that whenever I drive another car that's non electric, even cars that you would expect to feel pretty quick actually feel slow and unresponsive.

[TheDeuce]

I suppose it's time to wheel this old clip out again

[Freakuk]

SDK said:

You quickly get used to it, then you will want more !

This!

Same with any ICE car also, you soon get used to the power once you had them a few weeks/months.

It's the same on bikes, you jump on a litre bike and it'll try and rip your arms out at your shoulders, give it a few weeks and you'll be used to it and then start to look at mods to eek out more performance.

[Pistonheadsdicoverer]

EV makes it more available I guess?
Not just for an elite that can put £100K on the table.
The MG4 or the Model 3 for e.g.

[TheDeuce]

Pistonheadsdicoverer said:

EV makes it more available I guess?
Not just for an elite that can put £100K on the table.
The MG4 or the Model 3 for e.g.

Totally. Even a fairly modest EV can take off with surprising pace, the sort of pace you'd previously attribute to more powerful ICE car. And if you have a £50k+ budget, you're straight into the supercar club in terms of real world speed and acceleration.

Here's a thought... Generally the more affordable but still extremely powerful EV's are going to be with their first owner/lessee right now - essentially people that have at least managed to be sensible and level headed enough to hold down a job that affords such a car, or in many cases, gives them such a car.

But in another year or so, all those powerful EV's start to trickle down to the used market, where some will be bought by people called Barry - and Barrys' are aholes. They used to have a Focus ST which was 'well rapid' but they can now have a used model 3 performance, it'll cost them a more on the monthlies but they'll offset that with fuel savings. Now Barry has a car capable of moving faster than his own brain moves, waaaaaay faster.

So that'll be fun

[TheRainMaker]

Sebbak said:

So I wasn't sure about posting this at the risk of sounding overly dramatic (not my intention), but how did new 'performance' EV drivers find getting used to the torque in their new car?

Driving an EV is about as safe as it gets.

You won't have any problems at all, all the quicker ones are four-wheel drive, which makes them even more dull/ safe

The days of hitting the accelerator and pointing the other way around or up a tree are long gone.

You have nothing to worry about IMO.

[Tye Green]

whilst EVs are rapid, the most significant improvement compared to ICE vehicles is the instant power. there's no waiting for the turbo or the cam or changing gear etc and there's no (or very little) transmission momentum. throttle response at any speed is prob comparable to a bike at it's peak torque and that means that gaps in traffic that you wouldn't go for even in a quick ICE are a breeze, without any drama. even granny can do it. for commuting and general non-enthusiasts driving EV is simply a much better option.

[TheDeuce]

Tye Green said:

whilst EVs are rapid, the most significant improvement compared to ICE vehicles is the instant power. there's no waiting for the turbo or the cam or changing gear etc and there's no (or very little) transmission momentum. throttle response at any speed is prob comparable to a bike at it's peak torque and that means that gaps in traffic that you wouldn't go for even in a quick ICE are a breeze, without any drama. even granny can do it. for commuting and general non-enthusiasts driving EV is simply a much better option.

I do think that for the average, non lunatic driver, the extra power and immediate delivery will simply make their driving life safer. Particularly when it comes to gaps in traffic, motorway merging and overtaking Peugeot's that insist on doing 40mph on a NSL road.

However, the only thing we'll hear about in the press is when the young and stupid or old and farty exceed themselves and stack it.

[TheDeuce]

TheRainMaker said:

Sebbak said:

So I wasn't sure about posting this at the risk of sounding overly dramatic (not my intention), but how did new 'performance' EV drivers find getting used to the torque in their new car?

Driving an EV is about as safe as it gets.

You won't have any problems at all, all the quicker ones are four-wheel drive, which makes them even more dull/ safe

The days of hitting the accelerator and pointing the other way around or up a tree are long gone.

You have nothing to worry about IMO.

Except for EV's with track/drift modes, which are unimaginably lairy if provoked. Although in fairness if you engage such modest, guess who you have to blame

[TheRainMaker]

TheDeuce said:

TheRainMaker said:

Sebbak said:

So I wasn't sure about posting this at the risk of sounding overly dramatic (not my intention), but how did new 'performance' EV drivers find getting used to the torque in their new car?

Driving an EV is about as safe as it gets.

You won't have any problems at all, all the quicker ones are four-wheel drive, which makes them even more dull/ safe

The days of hitting the accelerator and pointing the other way around or up a tree are long gone.

You have nothing to worry about IMO.

Except for EV's with track/drift modes, which are unimaginably lairy if provoked. Although in fairness if you engage such modest, guess who you have to blame

I do need to get into some of the newest offerings, the lease on the Polestar is up in December and the market has changed massively in the last four years.

[TheDeuce]

TheRainMaker said:

TheDeuce said:

TheRainMaker said:

Sebbak said:

So I wasn't sure about posting this at the risk of sounding overly dramatic (not my intention), but how did new 'performance' EV drivers find getting used to the torque in their new car?

Driving an EV is about as safe as it gets.

You won't have any problems at all, all the quicker ones are four-wheel drive, which makes them even more dull/ safe

The days of hitting the accelerator and pointing the other way around or up a tree are long gone.

You have nothing to worry about IMO.

Except for EV's with track/drift modes, which are unimaginably lairy if provoked. Although in fairness if you engage such modest, guess who you have to blame

I do need to get into some of the newest offerings, the lease on the Polestar is up in December and the market has changed massively in the last four years.

Yep https://youtu.be/ls7jLPEGg_g?si=duvl-RGfFjblLN45